Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook said: "We are not setting out to target agricultural land and will ensure prime agricultural land and food security is protected."
Planning reform
A Government Minister has come under fire after quashing claims that Labour will target agricultural land under new planning reforms, just weeks after approving solar infrastructure which could 'jeopardise' the future of a family farm business.
Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook has hit out against media reports alleging that farmers will be 'targeted and forced to sell their land' for less than its potential value under the Government's Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
When introducing the Bill in Parliament earlier this month, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said planning reforms could lead to the 'biggest building boom' in a generation which could see 1.5 million homes built across England.
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The Bill could allow local authorities to compulsory purchase land more 'efficiently and effectively' to help deliver homes and infrastructure, including schools and GP surgeries, that are 'desperately needed' in communities or in the 'public interest', according to the Government.
However, Mr Pennycook has come under pressure after he approved a solar infrastructure project, just under a month ago, which could see tenant farmers Rob and Emma Sturdy lose 42% of their land at Eden Farm in Old Malton.
Despite noting how the project could result in ‘irreversible detriment' to Eden Farm as an agricultural business entity, he approved the solar project which has led to tenant farmers, like the Sturdy family, feeling like the Government does not care about them.
Tenant farmers
Speaking to 草榴社区 Guardian, Ms Sturdy said: "Quite simply, this Labour Government does not support the hard-working farmer or family business, and the drive to net zero nationally and locally is destroying businesses like ours.
"The prospect now for other tenant farmers successfully opposing solar energy schemes is remote in the extreme.
"Solar appeals are notoriously difficult to challenge; we went into this with our eyes wide open and have always known that our arguments were sound in accordance with planning policy.
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"However, we have been left bitterly and deeply disappointed."
Broken promises
TFA chief executive George Dunn said he was disappointed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had 'backtracked' on his promise at NFU Conference 2023 that solar farm developments would not come at the 'expense' of tenant farmers.
"We need the Government to explain urgently how it will protect other tenant farmers from having to face this trauma," Mr Dunn said.
However, Mr Pennycook said Government will ensure prime agricultural land is 'protected' for the sake of food security, and added that reforms are not 'targeting' farmers or any particular landowners.
"To deliver the homes and infrastructure we need, we do need to unlock land in the right places. It will be local authorities who make greater use of compulsory purchase powers," he added.
"We are not setting out to target agricultural land and will ensure prime agricultural land and food security is protected.
"But we think it is right that these powers are more widely used, and it will be for local authorities to make the decisions about what land is appropriate for those powers to be used on."
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Speaking in the House of Commons, Ms Rayner has urged MPs to back planning reform legislation.
"We have no time to waste in bringing the housing crisis we have inherited to an end, not only for those struggling to get onto the housing ladder but for the families and young children who are stuck in temporary accommodation," the Deputy Prime Minister added.
"That is why it is so crucial that we get Britain building and the return of the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill to Parliament today [March 24] represents another step forward in achieving this goal.
"But to ensure we can prove the naysayers wrong, and deliver on our Plan for Change target to build the 1.5m homes and crucial infrastructure this country needs, we need to make our planning reforms law as quickly as possible.
"This is why I am urging Parliament to back this Bill and ensure we can deliver the change so many people want to see."
Adding further commentary on the Bill's potential impact on farmers, the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government reaffirmed planning reforms will not come at the 'expense' of food production and the environment.
"The reforms are aimed at ensuring quicker decisions on compulsory purchase orders can be made, reducing the administrative costs of undertaking the process, and striking a balance to make sure compensation paid to landowners is not excessive but they are still paid a fair price," a spokesperson added.
"Changes being made to the loss payments regime will also benefit tenant farmers as they will receive a fairer share of compensation to reflect any inconvenience they may experience from the compulsory purchase process.
"From the outset, the Government has been clear that planning reforms will not come at the expense of the environment or food production."
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