At the third time of asking, the Upper Tribunal (UT) has granted an application to modify a restrictive covenant to permit a second dwelling to be built on a plot of land. The land, on which a small partly thatched cottage had originally stood, had been...
This year marks forty years of Tanners Solicitors in the Cotswolds. We asked founder Nicholas Tanner to reflect on how the region, and the firm, have evolved over that time.
When you look back to 1986, what feels most different?
Forty years ago, the Cotswolds felt smaller and more local. Property values were more modest, and the legal needs of the local population was more straightforward.
Over time, that has changed. The region now attracts interest from much further afield, and with that has come a greater level of financial and legal complexity.
What might once have been a straightforward matter now often involves wider considerations. Ownership structures, tax implications and longer-term planning are usually part of the conversation from the outset.
Has that changed the way you advise clients?
Not fundamentally. The detail has increased, certainly, but the underlying approach has stayed the same. It has always been about providing clear, sensible advice and taking the time to understand the wider picture.
Much of our work comes through recommendation, so there is an expectation that you will look beyond the immediate issue and consider how a decision fits into a longer-term plan.
You mentioned long term thinking. Has that become more important?
I think it has become more visible, family arrangements are often more complex than they once were, and financial structures can be more involved. It simply means clarity becomes even more important. In my experience, the earlier these conversations take place, the more options people tend to have.
In a region where property and land often carry both financial and personal significance, taking a long-term view is rarely misplaced.
What changes have you seen in the rural economy?
There has been a great deal of adaptation, many farms and estates have diversified, introducing new income streams alongside traditional agricultural activity. At the same time, regulation has increased and tax rules have shifted more than once. That has made succession more immediate and, in some cases, more complex.
What has not changed is the resilience. There is still a strong sense of stewardship and a clear intention to pass something on in good order.
How has the pace of work changed over time?
Things move more quickly now. Communication is faster and transactions can progress at a different pace, which is generally positive.
That said, some decisions still benefit from time and careful thought. Not everything improves by being accelerated.
Tanners has now been part of the Cotswolds for forty years. What has underpinned that longevity?
I think consistency, more than anything. From the outset, the focus was on doing good work and building long term relationships and that has not, and will not, change.
People tend to do their best work when they genuinely enjoy what they do, and that has always mattered here. It reflects in the way matters are handled and, ultimately, in the experience clients have.
And looking ahead?
The Cotswolds will continue to evolve, as it always has, new influences will come in, and expectations will shift, that is inevitable.
The role of the firm is to adapt where necessary, while holding on to what matters. Clear advice, delivered personally, with an understanding of the wider picture.
That approach has served us well over the past forty years and will hopefully serve us just as well over the coming forty years.