Loss of Productive Arable Land


There is a view that it is paramount not to allow good quality land to be lost to development, thereby impacting the amount of food grown in the UK, and thus placing an increasing reliance on imported food.  Particularly amidst global economic uncertainly; this raises concerns about potential import bans (due to disease etc), increased import tax/tariffs, climate change and increased global carbon emissions due to increased transportation.

The UK Government, UK Food Security Index May 2024 states: although reportedly coming “out of a challenging period of global supply chain shocks”, this should be “seen in the context of longer-term risk for climate change”.  The UK “maintains domestic production of all food available in the UK at around 60% of consumption”.  There is concern that this figure is dropping significantly as Solar Farms decimate our farmland at an alarming rate.  This situation is further amplified when considering the growing UK population.  There is a view that dependency on other nations’ produce should not be increased.

But arable land is more than food production, its presence and workings are intertwined with daily life – it underpins rural communities, local infrastructure and tourism.  Simple seemingly frivolous activities, such as stopping to chat to farm workers, watching and listening to machinery work the land, getting stuck on the country lanes behind a tractor, ones car being covered in mud, smell of muck spreading, or getting wet as one misjudges the irrigation pump, are all part of rural living.  One can also tell the Season, by just glancing across the fields, or by observing machinery making its way through our meandering country lanes.  BBQ parties are often booked when a combine harvester is first spotted as sunshine beckons for a few days!

It is quite difficult to comprehend such a transformation across our communities: from rural agricultural villages to Industrial grade power complexes.  From tractors and combine harvesters to utilitarian vehicles and maintenance drones buzzing overhead.  Surely this must equate to adverse implications for not only employees within the farming sector, but also for any business related to it?  Dr Caroline Johnson [MP], raised this in Parliament [15/05/25]: "Let us not forget the tenant farmers, who are often on multi-generational tenancies.  They suddenly find their whole family without home or livelihood" [https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/debate/2025-05-15/commons/commons-chamber/solar-farms].