A High Court judgement this afternoon (Friday) makes it clear that the large scale covering of the countryside in polytunnels requires planning permission.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England welcomes the Tuesley Farm judgement as a key step in reconciling the needs of modern farming with the vital importance of protecting the English countryside.
'This judgement is a crucial victory for the planning system which will ensure that local democracy and national policy are properly taken into account when polytunnels are proposed on farmland, and in particular on nationally and locally designated landscapes,' said Tom Oliver, Head of Rural Policy.
Tim Harrold, Chairman of CPRE Surrey who led CPRE's local campaign said:
'This judgement shows that when people stand up to be counted they are listened to!
'Polytunnels have a role to play in English farming but not at the expense of our most valued rural landscapes, enjoyed by millions of visitors looking for beauty and tranquillity in the countryside.'
CPRE has worked alongside the Tuesley Farm Campaign Group, cooperating with Friends of the Earth and the Ramblers Association. It has supported
Waverley Borough Council in taking enforcement action to get the polytunnels in its area removed.
This decision is seen as important guidance for other parts of the country such as Gloucestershire, Kent, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Large scale polytunnel installations are facing protest because of their unsightly impact on protected landscape and rural beauty as well as their threat to the quality of soil and water.
