NFU calls for clear planning guidance
Planning guidance which is clear, concise, robust and responsive to changes in political agendas is vital to the future direction of the agricultural industry – that is the key message in NFU Cymru’s response to the National Assembly for Wales’ Sustainability Committee’s inquiry into planning in Wales.
The Union’s written evidence highlights the role a planning process, which is effective and responsive, can play in terms of achieving the Welsh Assembly Government’s aspirations for climate change mitigation, affordable housing and renewable energy projects whilst ensuring that the challenge of producing food for an ever-growing population is met.
Bernard Llewellyn, NFU Cymru’s Rural Affairs Board Chairman said, "There is a renewed recognition across government, at local, Welsh Assembly, Westminster and European level, of the importance of food production and planning guidance needs to reflect this. Future planning guidance must view food production alongside, rather than in competition with, environmental sustainability.
"This will require a planning system that is clear, focussed, relevant, but above all, flexible enough to accommodate these increasing demands on food supply. There must also be consistency between local authority, National Park authority and Welsh Assembly Government planning policies."
NFU Cymru has also raised concerns that the current planning application process is viewed as a barrier to business and community growth in rural areas of Wales. To address this issue NFU Cymru has suggested that there is a need for advice to be made more readily available from planning departments throughout all levels of the planning process.
Bernard Llewellyn said, "The current planning process can be excessively long, costly and stressful for applicants, which inevitably deters many farmers from seeking planning permission for a number of potential projects. We feel that dialogue between planning departments and farming communities could be improved in order to identify opportunities within local areas which would in turn stimulate economic growth, identify renewable energy projects and create additional and affordable housing developments."
In conclusion Mr Llewellyn said, "Farmers can deliver on the significant challenges ahead in terms of mitigating the impact of climate change, maintaining and improving our landscape and environment, whilst making an important contribution to ensuring food security. However, this cannot be achieved without recognition by the Welsh Assembly Government and planning departments, that these policies are parallel and should not be viewed in competition with one another."
