Planning regulations remains significant barrier, say association, despite £15mn water investment
The Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) has called on the government to do more to simplify the process of building on-farm reservoirs as farmers face increasingly severe drought and water shortages.
Over two-thirds of England has been declared in drought and some areas have gone without rain for 60 days.
FPJ previously reported that prolonged drought and scorching temperatures have affected crops including brassicas, peas and cucumbers.
The CAAV’s call comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a new package of support for farmers, including £15 million to build on-farm reservoirs via the reopening of the Water Management Grant.
However, despite “warm words from the government”, the association said existing planning and regulatory requirements remain a significant barrier.
Jeremy Moody, CAAV secretary and adviser, said: “We need to identify how to harvest and abstract water best, store it well and then use it most efficiently, taking advantage of when our extreme weathers bring long periods of rain instead.”
The association added that environmental impact assessment (EIA) requirements can remove permitted development rights (PDRs), while PDRs also stop development within 25 meters of a main or classified road.
“The frustrating interactions with both EIAs and the abstraction rights needed to fill reservoirs require a much more serious approach by the government,” Moody continued. “It needs to ease the complexity, delay and cost of processes that depend on Natural England and the Environment Agency, as well as planners.”
Accelerating the Structures and Buildings Allowance for income and corporation taxes, or increasing the Annual Investment Allowance, would help with such substantial and necessary investment, Moody added.
Protecting stored water from evaporation and moving from rain gun irrigation to more effective technology are also important measures, he added.
In Wales, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) Cymru wrote to the Welsh Government earlier in August, demanding a coordinated response on the emerging water shortage on farms across the country.
Moody added: “For Wales, where farm reservoirs are becoming useful, we can hope that the new John Davies review of Welsh farming bureaucracy can propose similar reforms.”
The CAAV joins the NFU and British Berry Growers (BBG) in calling for the government to support water action.
