Property Lack of housing is barrier
to progressive farming • Older farmers oſten unable to retire • New entrants cannot start careers • Solutions needed for next generation
A
rural housing short- age is making it diffi- cult for farmers to re- tire – prompting calls for a new scheme to help growers and live- stock producers leave the indus- try with dignity. Those who wish to retire from farming should be able to do so without fear or hardship, says a new report which examines the impact of poor access to housing on older farmers and youngsters coming into the industry. Part of the challenge is that farming frequently involves peo- ple living and working in the same location. Tenant farmers especial- ly are often unable or reluctant to retire because it can involve leaving the place they have called home for years. The report was published by University College of Estate Man- agement, the Central Associa- tion of Agricultural Valuers, the Prince’s Countryside Fund, Roy-
al Agricultural University and Northumbrian Water Group.
Flexibility needed Report author and CAAV advis- er Jeremy Moody said the lack of housing was limiting the progres- sion of UK agriculture. Changes were needed in order to allow the younger generation to drive the industry forward, he said. “Measures to enable the re- tirement of the older generation and the opening of doors for the younger generation are severely restricted. Yet we shall need the greatest flexibility in this to man- age post-Brexit change in the sec- tor and give opportunities to the next generation.
Caution urged after poor partridge breeding season Housing is needed
“Sufficient housing is needed by everyone in the sector, but it’s frequently scarce and expensive in rural areas,” he explains. “Hous- ing is one key obstacle to farmers when scaling down or retiring - whether through lack of availabil-
“
The Game & Wildlife Conserva- tion Trust is urging caution about shooting wild grey partridges this season.
Autumn count data gath- ered by GWCT and members of the Partridge Count Scheme in- dicate it has been a poor breeding season for the popular gamebird. Even on areas that are managed for grey partridges, the number of chicks produced is below av- erage.
Management
The situation will be worse in ar- eas of the country without man- agement for grey partridges. It is likely that the low number of
young is related to a lack of chick- food insects, in combination with intense rainfall and cold temper- atures in June.
GWCT senior scientist Julie
Ewald described the scenario as serious although not as bad as the devastating summer of 2012. She added: “In order to shoot sustain- ably, it is important to know what numbers of birds you have on the ground.”
The most important advice is not to shoot grey partridges un- less you are actively taking steps to conserve them. GWCT advice states that grey partridges should not be shot if there are fewer than 20 birds per 250 acres.
by everyone in the sector – but it is frequently scarce
Tax allowances
Some solutions discussed in the report include relaxing local plan- ning for retiring and for new farm- ers, such as rural exception sites, farm building conversion, tax al- lowances and the development of affordable housing.
Mr Moody said the industry
also needed to encourage these ideas so they were included in pol- icies to provide housing that was suitable for the next farming gen- eration. Doing so would help en- sure retiring farmers could stay in the house they had always lived in.
“Taking this work forward will be about encouraging imaginative practice, proactive and positive be- haviour and innovative solutions among all, from local planning au- thorities to families considering their future or discussions with- in landlord/tenant relationships. “This needs to be in place as farmers react to the loss of Ba- sic Payment, so we can manage change practically and give the best start to the proficient farm- ers of the future.”
ity or limitations in affording it.” The report considers a wide range of issues around farming re- tirement and housing – as well as the need for effective action across the UK. “We need to identify, share and promote good practice to en- courage progressively better per- formance,” said Mr Moody.
The housing shortage is having severe consequences, says Jeremy Moody
Numbers of wild grey partridge are low this autumn DECEMBER 2019 • ANGLIA FARMER 69
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