Policy information sourced from Thurrock Core Strategy and Policies for Management of Development
CSTP21 – PRODUCTIVE LAND
The Council recognises the importance of food security and will ensure the protection, conservation and enhancement of agriculture, productive land and soil in the Borough.
Ensuring appropriate land management
The Council will promote the appropriate management and conservation of agricultural land and soil to address the changing climatic and economic environment anticipated in the future.
Development of the best and most versatile land (DEFRA Grades 1, 2 and 3) will not be supported except in exceptional circumstances. Developers will need to demonstrate that:
- there is no suitable site in a sustainable location on land of poorer agricultural quality; or
- alternative sites have greater value for their landscape, biodiversity, amenity, heritage or natural resources or are subject to other constraints such as flooding.
The Council will take into account the importance and quality of agricultural land when considering land allocation for climate change adaptation/mitigation activities such as new fresh and salt-water habitat.
Supporting productivity
The Council, with its partners, will support the rural economy through:
- Recognising and promoting the economic value of local food production and distribution.
- Promoting farming and local food co-operatives and supporting rural grant applications.
- Promoting and encouraging the expansion of agri-environment schemes.
- Maintaining and enhancing soil quality and resilience and optimising the areas where soil degradation has occurred.
- Encouraging energy-efficiency and renewable energy in agriculture.
- Promoting sustainable water use.
- Promoting woodland creation in appropriate places.
Complementary uses
The Council will encourage farm diversification where appropriate through the development of complementary small-scale businesses, which do not undermine nor degrade agricultural capacity. Businesses such as:
- Rural shops, pubs and services which contribute to maintaining the clusters of facilities serving the rural community;
- Country pursuits that make a significant contribution to rural areas and have the potential to expand the leisure and tourism industry.
The Council will support sustainable transport for rural access.
Allotments and urban production
The Council will support opportunities to engage residents in food production to increase education and awareness of healthy living.
The Council will seek to identify opportunities for food production in urban areas including allotments, community gardens and orchards.
Developers will be required to consider provision for allotments in new development in line with the standards in the Greengrid Strategy and Appendix 5.
Some areas of Thurrock have been identified as being deficient in quality sites for allotments. The following allotment areas have been identified as sites for improvements to allotments:
| Anchor Field; | Bull Meadow; | Cromwell Road; |
|---|---|---|
| Thurloe Walk; | Whitehall Lane; | West Road; |
| Adams Road; | Wharf Road; | High Road. |
Where deficiencies exist in small-scale allotments in rural areas, the Council will identify potential sites and any improvements to these sites.
Key Diagrams and Maps
Map 3: Location of Greengrid.
Sites will be included in the Adopted Sites Specific Allocations and Policies DPD and identified on the Proposals Map.
For more information please see the Core Strategy and Policies for Management of Development