Hunters recently participated in a Country Land and Business Association (CLA) event at Shuckburgh Hall, a 5,000-acre historic estate in Warwickshire
Bringing together landowners and rural professionals, the day involved presentations from Hunters, accountancy firm MHA and Godfrey-Payton, the land agents at Shuckburgh. There were also question and answer sessions and guided tours of Shuckburgh Hall, the church and grounds (where resident peacocks were spotted).
Delivering his presentation, Hunters' Partner and landed estates specialist Ian Layzell-Smith discussed trusts, succession planning and property ownership. In tying these topics together, he highlighted the many factors which need to be considered when advising rural estates. This is especially the case in the context of the shifting Inheritance Tax (IHT) landscape.
Isabella Murfin, the CLA's Director General, spoke about the campaigning and lobbying carried out by the CLA against the government's IHT proposals. As a reminder, in the Autumn 2024 Budget the government announced its intention to change the current rates of IHT reliefs. These would involve introducing a £1 million cap on 100% agricultural property relief and business property relief (from April 2026). The draft legislation to bring about the proposed changes was published on 21st July 2025.
