The future of our countryside depends on planning policy that balances growth, food production, housing and environmental stewardship. The Countryside Alliance has responded to the government’s consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to ensure rural communities and farms can thrive. Our priorities are clear: protect productive farmland, support agricultural investment, deliver affordable rural housing, encourage diversification and economic growth and expand renewable energy responsibly - without compromising the land we rely on for food.
Food security must be a national planning priority. Productive farmland is a limited resource and unnecessary development threatens domestic food production. Planning policies should safeguard high-quality agricultural land and prioritise development on brownfield, previously developed, or underused urban sites.
We also advocate a strong presumption in favour of agricultural development, a “default yes” approach, where proposals directly support farming. This includes barns, livestock housing, grain storage, polytunnels, and other essential infrastructure. Reducing planning barriers helps farms remain productive, competitive, and resilient, while supporting the wider rural economy.
Modern farms need infrastructure that boosts productivity, animal welfare, and environmental performance. Planning reform should streamline approvals for on-farm reservoirs, water storage, modern livestock buildings, and facilities that prevent pollution. Policies should also encourage farm diversification, supporting rural tourism, small businesses, and the reuse of existing agricultural buildings. These measures strengthen communities and expand economic opportunities beyond traditional farming.
Rural areas face a chronic shortage of genuinely affordable housing. Many agricultural workers and rural employees struggle to live where they work. Planning policies must ensure rural developments include meaningful levels of affordable homes, allowing local people to remain in their communities and contribute to the local economy. Rural areas should not become default sites for speculative housing developments that ignore local needs or infrastructure capacity.
We support renewable energy as part of the transition to a low-carbon economy, but it must not come at the expense of productive farmland. A “rooftop first” approach should prioritise commercial buildings, warehouses, car parks, and brownfield sites for solar energy before agricultural land is considered. Environmental enhancements must work alongside productive farming, recognising farmers’ central role in delivering both food and environmental stewardship.
The Countryside Alliance urges the government to ensure planning reforms protect and promote thriving rural communities. Policies should safeguard farmland, recognise food production as a strategic priority, support agricultural investment, deliver affordable rural housing, responsibly expand renewable energy, and foster economic diversification.
Our countryside is vital to the nation’s economic, social, and environmental wellbeing. Effective planning must ensure that rural areas remain resilient, productive, and vibrant places to live, work, and feed the nation.
To read our consultation response click here.