Unlocking the Power of Planning in England

Sustain and Sustainable Food Places are hosting a session to support food partnerships and other organisations who want to influence planning in their areas to deliver healthier and more sustainable food systems. This event is for food partnerships and other organisations that have so far not considered how local planning policies affect the food environment, or want to be better equipped with skills and approaches.

In this session, you will:

better understand how the planning system works and affects the food system
find out how planning can unlock a healthier food environment
learn how planning can address the climate & nature emergency and river pollution
hear from food partnerships that have successfully engaged in their areas' Local Plans.

Programme and speakers

Planning for a good food environment (Gillian Morgan, Sustain): an introduction to local plan making and the role of Sustainable Food Places in unlocking a helathy food environment
Local perspective - Sheffield (Ben Arnold, Sheffield City Council & Gareth Roberts, Regather): Contributing to Sheffield Local Plan consultation, submission content, achievements and outcomes
Q&A
Discussion: Local experiences, areas with Local Plans open for consultations, upcoming opportunities
Planning for the Planet (Ruth Westcott, Sustain): Local councils have the power to support nature friendly farming, tackle river pollution and protect wildlife through planning – but are they using these powers, and how can SFPs help?
Q&A and discussion

Before the session:

Is there a local plan consultation ongoing in your area right now? When is the next consultation due? Follow this link to find out how to find out: https://www.sustainweb.org/planning/how_to_get_involved/
Check out Sustain’s online toolkit Planning Food Cities which helps communities use the town planning system to achieve a more sustainable food system.
Sign up for a monthly newsletter for updates on food in planning https://www.sustainweb.org/planning/

LINKS ON PLANNING

Food for the Planet – planning resources https://www.foodfortheplanet.org.uk/planning/

You can find out where the factory farm mega corps are operating here https://www.foodfortheplanet.org.uk/stink-or-swim/

A handy map of intensive animal agriculture hot spots in the UK across all species: https://www.ciwf.org.uk/our-campaigns/factory-farming-map/

Links to the story about the Norfolk megafarm and related stories https://www.sustainweb.org/news/oct24-methwold-factory-farm-unlawful/ and https://www.sustainweb.org/blogs/jul24-supreme-court-finch-planning/

Contact your MP about the National Planning Policy Review if you are in England!! This is your chance to influence the way that planning happens across the country for the next five years. Here’s a link to the consultation, which is now closed. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-reforms-to-the-national-planning-policy-framework-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system

Sustain's planning guides and toolkit can be found here https://www.sustainweb.org/planning/planning_your_neighbourhood/

EXAMPLES OF LOCAL PLANS AND LOCAL PLAN RESPONSES

Blackburn with Darwen local plan is here https://www.blackburn.gov.uk/planning/planning-policies-strategies-and-guides/local-plan-2021-2037

Regather’s response to Sheffield City Council’s local plan https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u2jgC3tiGwBavihIm8DJSzLvx-25C3xi6_vL4hzYZ8s/edit?usp=sharing

Schedule for reviewing Sheffield City Council local plan https://democracy.sheffield.gov.uk/documents/s62762/11%20-%20Appendix%203%20-%20Schedule%20of%20Suggested%20Amendments%20to%20the%20Publication%20Draft%20Plan%20to%20Address%20Issues%20.pdf

LINKS FROM PARTICIPANTS

Hi, we are Green Allotments a new(ish) national charity creating new allotment sites. We are giving away two new allotments sites! - visit www.greenallotments.org.uk

Hi, Nicola from Stir to Action, currently working on a project Pathways to Land for BPOC farmers/growers: https://www.stirtoaction.com/blog-posts/pathways-to-land-for-bpoc-report

there are some interests studies looking at urban growing, they show that it can be incredibly productive, even more than conventional farms in some cases https://news.agu.org/press-release/urban-crops-can-have-higher-yields-than-conventional-farming/