The NFU has raised concerns about the government's Localism Bill, warning it could lead to Nimbyism and ultimately derail ambitions of increasing UK food production.
NFU president Peter Kendall told the union's annual conference in Birmingham that local planning consent was key to boosting UK food production but added he "worried" how planning would be affected by the government's localism plans, under which communities would be given a greater say in planning decisions.
"A narrow localist agenda could put the brakes on the growth we need state-of-the-art polytunnels, critical to the success of our soft fruit industry; high-output glasshouses for vegetables; the latest lower-carbon, high-welfare pig, poultry and other livestock units," Kendall said.
To counteract this, food production needed to be a national strategic priority for the government, he added. "If it doesn't then Nimbyism will win the day."
NFU government affairs adviser Nick von Westenholz added that part of the issue with the Localism Bill was the lack of clarity provided by the government as to how exactly it would be implemented.
NFU president Peter Kendall told the union's annual conference in Birmingham that local planning consent was key to boosting UK food production but added he "worried" how planning would be affected by the government's localism plans, under which communities would be given a greater say in planning decisions.
"A narrow localist agenda could put the brakes on the growth we need state-of-the-art polytunnels, critical to the success of our soft fruit industry; high-output glasshouses for vegetables; the latest lower-carbon, high-welfare pig, poultry and other livestock units," Kendall said.
To counteract this, food production needed to be a national strategic priority for the government, he added. "If it doesn't then Nimbyism will win the day."
NFU government affairs adviser Nick von Westenholz added that part of the issue with the Localism Bill was the lack of clarity provided by the government as to how exactly it would be implemented.
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