Agricultural Land: Protection

Opened the debate

I am pleased to share my pride in the rural areas of my constituency and discuss how we can enable both urban and rural communities, as well as our natural environment, to thrive. I bring forward this debate to reassure constituents about government commitment to protecting our natural environment and agricultural land amidst necessary planning reforms for future growth. Aylesbury has faced extensive house building over the past decade leading to pressures on services and infrastructure while understanding the urgency of addressing the national housing crisis. The need exists for investment in renewable energy, but there is tension between this and environmental protection. I suggest three points based on Aylesbury’s experience: embedding clear environmental safeguards in planning policy, learning from pockets of good practice where housing and nature coexist well, and ensuring that nature is protected, strengthened, and enhanced. This includes reviewing the Environmental Improvement Plan to safeguard 30% of our land by 2030. Additionally, protecting agricultural land means supporting farmers who manage it amidst various pressures such as weather events, economic volatility, and rising energy costs.

Government Response

Thanking Laura Kyrke-Smith for securing today’s debate, the Minister acknowledges the importance of planning reforms that ensure a win-win for house building and nature. He confirms a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan to deliver on Environment Act targets and international commitments to protect 30% of England's land by 2030. The Government will work with farmers and landowners through environmental land management schemes (ELMS) to create wildlife-rich habitats, improve water quality around protected sites, and develop landscape-scale approaches to restore protected sites into favourable condition. Additionally, the Government places great importance on agricultural land and food production, ensuring that best and most versatile agricultural land is reflected in planning policies. The forthcoming Land Use Framework for England will consider cross-governmental issues such as energy and food security, expanding nature-rich habitats like wetlands, peat bogs, and forests.