Cambridgeshire farmer Anne-Marie Hamilton on planning

In the very near future, politicians of all hues are going to have to make some really serious decisions.

Do they want to continue with their current policies of covering our green fields in houses, solar farms, and reservoirs, or ensure that this country can feed itself in these unstable times and be self- sufficient in food?

One thing is certain – if they make the wrong call, the impact will be devastating because what none of them seem to appreciate is that nobody is making any more land, so how we use it effectively is critical!

Anne-Marie Hamilton writes about planning and infrastructure on agricultural land, (Image: Catherine Cranwell)

The East of England has long been known as “The Bread Basket of England,” so to designate the most productive land in the country for anything other than food productions is folly of the highest order.

Urban politicians continue to fondly imagine that they can import cheap food from abroad.

This makes two assumptions – that the food is there to import, and that they are not deliberately depriving poorer nations of the food that they need to keep their own populations alive and in good health.

With 70 million mouths to feed each year in this country, it is time for a very serious review of how we make the very best use of an extremely limited resource, and to answer some very difficult questions.

Why do we keep building on greenfield sites?

It may be cheaper today, but that is a very short-term view, as once that land has been used for anything other than food production, it will become contaminated and is unlikely ever to be returned to agriculture because it will be costly to clean up.

Why do planners not insist that every single industrial building that is erected each year should be strong enough to have solar panels fitted on the roof?

That land has already been lost to agriculture, so make its use doubly effective.

Why are new homes still being built without the ability to be carbon neutral and provide their own energy needs?  We have the technology.

It may cost a little more initially but will save heartbreak in the future.

We need a national review of land use very urgently as time is fast running out.

Are there any politicians out there with the vision to propose and implement it?  I sincerely hope so – for all our sakes!