Rural Land Use Planning

Research has shown that over 50% of farmers now rely on income from diversified activities to varying degrees. Others have been willing to sell land for other developments.

Diversification

As thier incomes have come under increasing pressure, farmers have been forced to look at other options for managing their businesses, such as:

• new farming enterprises
• agricultural contracting
• off-farm income
• enroling into agri-environment schemes
• re-use of farm buildings
• added value

Contact us at:

k.taylor@asken.co.uk

A common factor in many plans is the need to obtain planning approval - an area usually unfamiliar to farmers because farm buildings are typically not covered by planning regulations.

Almost by definition, farmer-led developments are usually in rural areas. Planning authorities are careful to ensure that the qualities of the countryside are not threatened by developments. This can restrict farmers' plans and their ability to adjust to the new economic environment. The softening of the line on developments by farmers and on the application of PPG7 on developments affecting Best and Most Versatile land are welcome in this respect.

Green Infrastructure

Thanks to Natural England (NE), more recognition is being given to the value of Green Infrastructure (GI) to people and thier home environment. GI can be the countryside itself, but in more urban and semi-urban areas it includes parks, open spaces, green corridors (canals, abandoned railways) and so on. NE, as a statutory consultee on some planning applications, is now looking at the implications of a development on GI and the need for it to be designed into plans. Asken is well placed to assist, given its expertise in access managemnet. Asken has done many projects looking at demand for access and has built a computer-based model to help predict how demand can change under different conditions.

Farm Woodland/Forestry

The government has indicated a wish to see the area of land under trees to double, although no timescale has been set. As farming becomes less profitable in marginal areas, woodland and forestry may be seen by some as a viable alternative. If land prices drop, as many expect, new types of landowners may emerge. These may be environmental organisations (e.g. RSPB, Wildlife Trusts) or wealthy individuals. What they share is a lower dependence on incomes from farming and a higher priority on environmental and amenity values. For many, woodland may have a role to play in their land management plans.

One exciting area for development is New Wildwoods – extensive mosaics of native woodlands and other land uses where natural processes are given greater freedom. Asken has looked into the possibilities for the Woodland Policy Group.

At the same time, foresters have begun to realise the potential for forests to be used for access and recreation. Forest Enterprise has been at the leading edge and has accumulated a lot of experience in managing woodland for such purposes. Asken has helped them organise this experience and make it accessible using a sophisticated intranet-based data management system.

If you wish to know more about the trends in farming incomes, the pressures for diversification and the forms that this is taking, contact Asken.

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