Asked by: Steve Witherden (Labour - Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed national planning reforms for farmers on (a) the environment and (b) animal welfare.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to, and enhance, the natural and local environment.
The revised Framework published on 12 December last year maintains the expectation that where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, areas of poorer quality land should be preferred to those of a higher quality.
The government are considering what further changes might be made to make it quicker for farmers to build farm buildings, barns and other infrastructure needed to boost their food production.
The animal welfare considerations for buildings and accommodation used for farmed animals are set out in The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 with further guidance set out in the relevant species-specific welfare code of practice.
Asked by: Steve Witherden (Labour - Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to provide an update on the status of Drenewydd Actif Newtown’s application for the Community Ownership Fund.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Applicants to the Community Ownership Fund (COF) were required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form as a first stage and have this approved before being able to submit a full application in the next available round of the Fund.
Drenewydd Actif received an outcome regarding their EOI on 11 April 2024 after the last round of funding had closed.
Communities will rightly be seeking clarity regarding the future of the Community Ownership Fund. We recognise uncertainty is challenging for groups seeking to save vital community assets; the Government is carefully considering all available options and will confirm plans in due course.