Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
A countryside charity has warned that Devon’s farmland is under growing pressure from competing land demands, following the Government’s publication of a new national framework.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) in Devon has criticised the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Land Use Framework, unveiled this week, arguing it could have serious consequences for food production and the county’s rural landscape.
The framework, the first of its kind in England, sets out how land could be used in future to balance priorities such as food security, renewable energy, housing and nature restoration. However, Devon CPRE says the proposals risk taking significant amounts of farmland out of production.
Steve Crowther, chairman of Devon CPRE, said the plans “confirm long-held concerns” among farming communities.
He claims around 10% of England’s land could be reassigned, including 1% for solar and wind energy and a fur…
