New rules may require restructure permission.

This article deals with the rules proposed by the British Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in September 2005. The rules aim to stop farmers undertaking large-scale restructuring projects. The government has published a consultation paper which proposes that farmers should be required to contact the Rural Development Service before they carry out the large-scale removal or addition of hedges, walls, fences, tracks and ditches. It also proposes they seek permission if they want to re-contour agricultural land or create or fill in a lake or reservoir. For area-based projects, the lowest figure suggested is 123 acres of non-sensitive land or 50 acres of sensitive land.