We’ve been lobbying for more positive planning rules for farming and the proposed zones have real potential to reduce red tape.
It is great to see that nine Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) have realised the economic value of the food and farming industries and have sought Defra funding to bring forward Food Enterprise Zones within their areas.
Under the scheme they will work with their local planning authorities to ensure that simpler planning rules are introduced. Zones have been announced in Somerset, the South Downs, Cornwall, Cumbria, Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Cheshire, and West Sussex, with a further three in Lincolnshire.
Further information
- The nine LEPs have been awarded £50,000 per zone.
- The idea of a Food Enterprise Zone is to create areas with more straighforward planning rules - for example, permitted development rights for farm buildings and or farm processing or supply chain activities.
- What the zone would allow would depend on the location and bid. It is a possible way of reducing barriers to planning presented by the town planning system, as if a project met with the rules it could go ahead without the need to apply for permission.
- Local Planning Authorities would establish and administer the Food Enterprise Zone; there is a formal planning process for doing this through a Local Development Order.