We were seeking to promote a more efficient town planning system so that our members can continue to run and grow sustainable businesses. Key messages included:
- A request for clearer national policy guidance for agriculture in the planning system and clearer procedural guidance for local planning authorities, to support efficient local decision making.
- We cautioned against a two tier planning system, one that seeks to be more flexible, but then prevents development in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
- We asked for more permitted development rights for agriculture and for permitted development rights to be updated to reflect modern farming techniques (to take more farming development out of the planning application process).
- We also asked for the threshold for buildings for intensive livestock planning applications needing an Environmental Impact Assessment to be raised from 500 square metres to 1,000 square metres, a modest request in comparison to the urban development limits being suggested.