Q-B8.1: Do you agree that the plan should include a policy avoiding development on the best and most versatile agricultural land, unless it can be demonstrated that the harm to agricultural land is clearly outweighed by the benefit of development?
Only 7.5% of the world land surface has soil that is able to produce food - I should be paramount that any agricultural land currently producing food have high protection and that any loss of this land only be considered as a situation of very last resort
The farmland is high quality agricultural land and makes an important contribution to sustainability and security of food supply. Recent Government policy has stated that farming and food production make an important contribution to sustainable development. The highest concentration of ALC Grade 2 land around Leamington Spa and Warwick is to the north and east of Leamington Spa. The land making up these sites is, therefore, considered to be a scarce resource of high value for sustainable food production. The Government seeks to protect against the loss of such land from non-agricultural development. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that “Where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, local planning authorities should seek to use areas of poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality”; a policy which will continue to grow in significance as the increasing cost of imported wheat and grain drives up domestic food production needs.
Redevelopment of existing sites'
The farmland is high quality agricultural land and makes an important contribution to sustainability and security of food supply. Recent Government policy has stated that farming and food production make an important contribution to sustainable development. The highest concentration of ALC Grade 2 land around Leamington Spa and Warwick is to the north and east of Leamington Spa. The land making up these sites is, therefore, considered to be a scarce resource of high value for sustainable food production. The Government seeks to protect against the loss of such land from non-agricultural development. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that “Where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, local planning authorities should seek to use areas of poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality”; a policy which will continue to grow in significance as the increasing cost of imported wheat and grain drives up domestic food production needs.
The farmland is high quality agricultural land and makes an important contribution to sustainability and security of food supply. Recent Government policy has stated that farming and food production make an important contribution to sustainable development. The highest concentration of ALC Grade 2 land around Leamington Spa and Warwick is to the north and east of Leamington Spa. The land making up these sites is, therefore, considered to be a scarce resource of high value for sustainable food production. The Government seeks to protect against the loss of such land from non-agricultural development. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that “Where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, local planning authorities should seek to use areas of poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality”; a policy which will continue to grow in significance as the increasing cost of imported wheat and grain drives up domestic food production needs.
[Argument 3] The current shortage of fresh food (tomatoes, peppers, salad) highlights that the UK must take food security more seriously. Thus, high quality agricultural land needs to be protected from development. This is evidently the case for the area between Guys Cliffe Avenue and Old Milverton which the proposed developments encroach into.
I feel all agricultural land should be deemed as the best and most versatile when it is tenant farm land as this provides a much, needed route for young farmers or other new entrants to start work in this nationally important industry creating food security for the nation and County. This need for food security has been shown to be even more important in the post-Brexit era and the current Ukraine/Russia conflict.
No answer given
Recent Government policy has stated that farming and food production make an important contribution to sustainable development. The highest concentration of ALC Grade 2 land around Leamington Spa and Warwick is to the north and east of Leamington Spa. The land making up these sites is, therefore, considered to be a scarce resource of high value for sustainable food production. The Government seeks to protect against the loss of such land from non-agricultural development. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that “Where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, local planning authorities should seek to use areas of poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality”; a policy which will continue to grow in significance as the increasing cost of imported wheat and grain drives up domestic food production needs. If an area is high quality agricultural land, its continuance as such should be prioritised over development. Government policy is clear that food production and farming contributes to sustainable development. Areas B12 and B13 are high quality agricultural land and should be retained (and valued) as such. The assumption that unrestricted access to greenspace can benefit people and wildlife simultaneously is naive. A clear distinction should be made between greenspace for human benefit and greenspace for biodiversity purposes with low levels of human access such as farmland and wildlife refuges/corridors.
Yes need additional protection and buffers on the river Avon, Leam and their tributaries, Local Wildlife Sites and PLWS’s, Local Nature Reserves, SSSIs, Ancient woodland, Local Green Spaces, Ecosites etc. Councils need to reassess their Potential Local Wildlife Sites as a matter of urgency, as particularly in the south there are huge gaps in this very important evidence base.
Recent Government policy has stated that farming and food production make an important contribution to sustainable development. The highest concentration of ALC Grade 2 land around Leamington Spa and Warwick is to the north and east of Leamington Spa. The land making up these sites is, therefore, considered to be a scarce resource of high value for sustainable food production. The Government seeks to protect against the loss of such land from non-agricultural development. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that “Where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, local planning authorities should seek to use areas of poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality”; a policy which will continue to grow in significance as the increasing cost of imported wheat and grain drives up domestic food production needs. If an area is high quality agricultural land, its continuance as such should be prioritised over development. Government policy is clear that food production and farming contributes to sustainable development. Areas B12 and B13 are high quality agricultural land and should be retained (and valued) as such. The assumption that unrestricted access to greenspace can benefit people and wildlife simultaneously is naive. A clear distinction should be made between greenspace for human benefit and greenspace for biodiversity purposes with low levels of human access such as farmland and wildlife refuges/corridors.
No answer given
[Argument 3] The current shortage of fresh food (tomatoes, peppers, salad and much else) highlights that the UK must take food security much more seriously. Thus, high quality agricultural land needs to be protected from development and its cultivation must be encouraged and incentivized. Such agricultural land evidently exists in in the area between Guys Cliffe Avenue and Old Milverton which the proposed developments damagingly encroach into.
food production; don't develop on agricultural land of grades 1,2,3a at all
Yes. River and canal corridors need prioritisation, together with consideration of river catchment areas as a whole, for example Finham Brook and its tributaries upstream from Kenilworth Castle. The starting point for prioritisation of locations should begin with an analysis of the natural geography, not the development that has already taken place.
Developing agricultural land should be avoided.
The land North of leamington spa B12, B13 is high quality agricultural land and we now, more than ever, should be retaining such land. This high value area has already felt the impact from construction of HS2 causing interruption of farmland and wildlife habitat. It forms part of an important wildlife corridor between the urban area of Leamington and the A46. Development in these areas was rejected less than 6 years ago, what has changed since then that now makes it ok to destroy the green belt here?
Regen agriculture in South Warwickshire should be supported. Agroforestry. Orchards. Market gardening. Community Farms (social/care farming).
Areas B12 and B13 are areas of rich agricultural value and shout be protected from development. Brownfield land should always be developed first for climate change, biodiversity and social & economic wellbeing reasons.
Agricultural land around leisure and wildlife areas such as Earlswood Lakes and woods and surrounding roads should be prioritised to maintian the semi- rural nature of the area rather than it being isolated within dense housing.
No answer given
In terms of land use area Warwickshire remains an agricultural county and all agricultural land should be protected from development. In particular, tenanted farmland, such as that held in the WCC Smallholdings estate should be preserved, as this provides a much-needed route for young farmers or other new entrants to start work in this nationally important industry, creating food security for the nation and county. This need for food security has been shown to be even more important in the post-Brexit era and the current Ukraine/Russia conflict.
No answer given
Yes, we need additional protection and buffers on the river Avon, Leam and their tributaries, Local Wildlife Sites and PLWS’s, Local Nature Reserves, SSSIs, Ancient woodland, Local Green Spaces, Ecosites etc. Councils need to reassess their Potential Local Wildlife Sites as a matter of urgency, as particularly in the south there are huge gaps in this very important evidence base and this information should be used in the plans as well as information on protected species. Brownfield sites and areas with poor biodiversity should be prioritised for development.
Recent Government policy has stated that farming and food production make an important contribution to sustainable development. The highest concentration of ALC Grade 2 land around Leamington Spa and Warwick is to the north and east of Leamington Spa. The land making up these sites is, therefore, considered to be a scarce resource of high value for sustainable food production. The Government seeks to protect against the loss of such land from non-agricultural development. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that “Where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, local planning authorities should seek to use areas of poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality”; a policy which will continue to grow in significance as the increasing cost of imported wheat and grain drives up domestic food production needs.
No answer given
No answer given
Yes, rivers and canals in particular
On general principles of efficiency, the most productive land should not be used for food production. However, my understanding is that this policy is set by government, so Council position on this will not matter. As Government is seeking to upgrade 3B land to "best and most versatile" land. However, the official description of 3b land is: “Land capable of producing moderate yields of a narrow range of crops, principally cereals and grass or lower yields of a wider range of crops or high yields of grass which can be grazed or harvested over most of the year.” Including this land under the heading of "best and most versatile land" makes a nonsense of the English language, in typically "Orwellian" fashion. Such land is also typically not used for food production, and use of land for biofuels is not efficient by comparison to use of land for solar panels. I have covered these issues in several communications with Councillors, and in an article here: https://centralbylines.co.uk/what-on-earth-has-liz-truss-got-against-renewable-energy/ It seems our entire food system is likely to change radically in the future, and it is not clear that the existing system of designations is fit for purpose. In the meantime, I would say that if the government continues with its intention to debase the concept of "best and most versatile land" the Councils should not enshrine that category in their documents, but seek some alternative method of assessing the productivity of land. Again, having the in-house expertise to do so would be an advantage. Alternatively, the Council could seek to work with local colleges or universities on this issue.
No answer given