Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs and Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning has issued the following statement:
Until the mid-twentieth century, Wales had a rich and varied horticultural industry which supplied local needs and was a locally notable land use activity. But the movement to a global food system in the later decades of the century, with specialisation of production, led to steep decline in Welsh, and indeed UK, horticulture. We now rely heavily on imports, whether from abroad or elsewhere in the UK.
There is a need now to cultivate more fruit and vegetables in Wales; be that crops grown in the open, orchards and berry fruit, or protected cultivation crops in glasshouses and polytunnels.
We have a number of business supports in place to encourage new and existing horticulture enterprises. We support growers through two dedicated funding schemes; the Horticulture Development Scheme and the Small Grants - Horticulture Start Up scheme.
But our work has identified systemic challenges which are potential barriers to progress, and step change. In 2023 the Welsh Government commissioned a report on Barriers to Small Scale Horticulture Development in Wales. The report contained a number of recommendations to address both actual and perceived barriers to the development of small-scale horticulture. In response we established The Wales Horticulture Planning Working Group of stakeholders to co-produce solutions to these recommendations, and assist rolling them out.
That group has met over recent months to consider and plan. We have agreed with the group, a first step, would be to explore an update to Planning Policy Wales to emphasise the specific focus and importance we place on horticulture as a land-use, acknowledging its unique operational needs. Whilst we recognise the overarching need to update Planning Policy Wales, any specific amendments to the policy will be subject to additional stakeholder engagement through the usual consultation procedures in due course.
Beyond this step, we are committed to exploring additional measures, as suggested by the report recommendations, to support planning authorities, horticulture applicants, and their agents in developing successful horticulture enterprises. Our ultimate goal is to foster a larger, vibrant horticulture sector through a balanced approach that integrates planning with other supportive initiatives, driving sustainable growth and innovation in the industry.
To read the Welsh Government's statement in its entirety, please select the following link: Written Statement: Horticulture Policy Development in Wales (18 December 2024) | GOV.WALES