Abstract
1. Background Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land is the most flexible land in terms of the range of crops that can be grown, the level and consistency of yield and the cost of obtaining it, and equates to grades 1, 2, and 3a of the Agricultural Land Classification system. Existing planning policy in England, as set out in PPS 7, Sustainable Development in Rural Areas, states that the presence of BMV land should be taken into account alongside other sustainability considerations in making decisions about planning applications. This research will build upon Defra’s last (2004) review of policy on the protection of BMV land, and will evaluate the extent to which the current planning framework has protected BMV land in England over the last ten years. It will feed into work to ensure that appropriate consideration continues to be given to the protection of good quality agricultural soils in the light of changing pressures and future land use priorities. 2. Research Aims This review will: • Calculate the amount of BMV land that has been lost over the last 10 years, focusing in particular on the proportion lost to development or any other permanent land use change which is not reversible; • Identify and evaluate the processes and techniques used by planning authorities to make decisions with regard to development on BMV land. These issues will be investigated using a variety of techniques, including collation and analysis of detailed Agricultural Land Classification (ALC)/BMV datasets; review of local development framework and planning supporting statements; and structured telephone interviews with a selection of local authority planners and representatives of Natural England. The research will focus on local authorities with high a degree of development pressures and which have high concentrations of high grade ALC land located near to existing urban areas. 3. Study Outputs From these elements of work, the project team will ultimately develop a technical report which details the current availability and changes in BMV land in England over the past decade, and will summarise how planning authorities have taken account of BMV as a sustainability indicator when determining planning applications. The project team will also seek appropriate opportunities to promote the findings of the study.
United Kingdom