A breakthrough in the debate on planning permission for polytunnels will see Herefordshire Council redefine its policy requiring automatic planning permission for the temporary structures on both existing and new sites.
The move came after notice of a judicial review was initiated by soft-fruit grower Neil Cockburn.
His farm, Pennoxstone Court, is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty and has up to 30 hectares of polytunnels on-site at any one time.
Cockburn was served with an enforcement notice by the local planning authority in February, ordering the removal of all the polytunnels on the farm within 60 days. But he appealed against the decision.
The first part of a public inquiry was held on November 6-9, now adjourned until November 26-28.The council has agreed to pay all reasonable costs incurred by Cockburn in bringing the action.
Although reluctant to comment on the case until it closes, Cockburn told FPJ: “We are still fighting for our livelihoods. The council keeps changing its position so it is difficult to know where you stand.”
The council confirmed it will develop a supplementary planning document in relation to polytunnels, in formal consultation with Herefordshire growers. A consultation copy will be published in the new year.
Peter Yates, development control manager at Herefordshire Council, told FPJ: “We have had a meeting with the main growers in Herefordshire, bar one, who did not show up. We invited them to have a discussion about what they wanted to see in the supplementary planning document and the issues they wanted it to cover.
“We then had a similar meeting with those objecting to polytunnels, to take both views into account.”
The forward planning team at Herefordshire Council is looking over the issues raised by both sides.
Yates stressed that the document is “supplementary” to existing policies, and cannot be used to introduce new measures. But together with the consultation process, the document will make planning policies and the information required from growers clearer, he added.
British Summer Fruits (BSF), which represents more than 90 per cent of UK berry growers, intends to use the case to set the bandwagon rolling for the industry’s cause.
BSF chairman Laurence Olins said: “We are satisfied with the result and especially encouraged that Herefordshire Council is working with local growers to develop future policy.
“Establishing an open dialogue between growers and governing bodies is vital to ensure the berry industry remains one of British agriculture’s main success stories.”
Herefordshire Council is to consult fully with growers in the county concerning its future policy on polytunnels. At a national level, the National Farmers’ Union and BSF will continue to work with the Department for Communities and Local Government to stress the importance of polytunnels in wider planning regulations.
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