Update, August 31: NFU members can now read our draft submission to the government consultation on the framework. Click on the link to the right of the page (requires log in).
Update: NFU members can now read a briefing by clicking on the link to the right of this page.
New planning guidelines that support sustainable development in rural areas should be a boost for agriculture and horticulture, the NFU has said.
The government’s draft National Planning Policy Framework sets out the guidelines on which local and neighbourhood plans should be based. At its heart is a presumption in favour of sustainable development so that planning encourages growth rather than acts as an impediment.
Specifically, the document recognises that planning policies should promote the development and diversification of agricultural businesses, as well as encourage development that builds resilience to climate change and foster renewable energy. There will now be a 12-week consultation period for feedback.
NFU Vice President Gwyn Jones said: “The overall tone of the document is encouraging and recognises that the role of planning is to support, rather than frustrate attempts to secure sustainable growth in rural and urban areas alike. The draft guidance is clear and succinct and I’m pleased that the government appears to have recognised the need for a positive approach to development in rural areas as well as urban. This links closely with the government’s Growth Review which draws attention to the need to help rural areas contribute to rebalancing the economy.
“The whole agri-food sector needs to see significant development over the course of the coming years if it is to become more competitive and economically robust. But development on family farms is also needed to ensure that the industry can become more environmentally sustainable and resilient to climate change.
“Overall, the goals of the NPPF need to align with those of the Foresight report on the Future of Food and Farming, which include promoting sustainable intensification as a key priority action. Recognising the Government’s desire to decentralise decision making on planning, a key challenge will be in translating the encouraging words contained in the draft NPPF into decisions that are ultimately made at a local and neighbourhood level.
“This is a good start and we look forward to continuing positive dialogue with the government during the consultation period to fine tune the document.”
- Visit the NFUonline planning news channel here.
- Read the draft National Planning Policy Framework here.
- J.R.Lindley - 13/10/2011
All Planning Officers and Planning Committee Members shoiuld be individually liable for repayment of an applicant's entire costs and loss of future earnings if they have been found to be obstructive to a planning application merely on political grounds.i.e. because they are opposed to all forms of private enterprise and regard profits and being theft (Karl Marx). Dick Lindley, West Yorkshire.
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- Alasdair Barron - 13/09/2011
Until local authorities have to show why an application should not go ahead and an effective means of challenging their rejections is put in place the status quo will remain. That is, broadly, that any number of objections (archeology, landscape, ecology, mitigation, transport, AONB, Village Green etc and others as mentioned by contributors below) can be raised, giving any NIMBY objector the power to string out the planning process for years while more and more evidence is required to be produced and costs and aggravation rise to impossible levels. Power is in the hands of the objector. What does the new legislation do to redress that?
- phil coverdale - 28/08/2011
The whole planning system wants a complete root and branch change If an application meets all current building regs approval all energy efficiency criteria and the design of the development is in keeping with the area but not exclusively as modern designs can be super efficient then there should be no means of objection to a development taking place. As mentioned above the present system is weighted against development taking place and the raft of details needed to be fulfilled is costly and serves no purpose in a modern country. I was led to believe there is a housing shortage in this country scrap the planning system and allow building regs to monitor developments an application can be approved or rejected on the whim of planning officer who rarely view applications objectively.