More than 1,700 farms on the outskirts
of English towns and cities have disappeared since 2010,
according to a groundbreaking report published by CPRE, the
countryside charity.
The report reveals that productive
agricultural land surrounding urban areas – land that could feed
local communities and provide environmental benefits – is rapidly
being lost from farming.
The loss equates to 56,000 hectares of
farmland, an area similar in size to the city of Leeds, and
represents a critical loss for both food security and
environmental sustainability.
While the areas studied in the report
represent just 11.3% of UK agricultural land, they produce an
outsize proportion of foods including wheat (20.6%), oats
(20.6%), barley (20%), potatoes (14.3%) and milk
(13.3%).
These farms not only provide food
security but also serve as essential green buffers that support
local ecosystems, reduce food miles, and contribute £3.3 billion
annually to the UK economy.
This crisis comes amid further
uncertainty for the agricultural sector, following Defra's recent
announcement that the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme
would be paused. This key post-Brexit payment programme was
designed to reward farmers for environmental stewardship. It was
halted abruptly last month, leaving many farmers without crucial
financial support.
CPRE's new report follows its earlier
research that showed how 14,000
hectares of England's most productive farmland have been lost to
development since 2010, 60% of what remains is at high risk of
flooding, and climate data from the 1940s is still being used to
classify the quality of UK agricultural
land.
Graeme Willis, agricultural
lead at CPRE, said:
‘Farms around our towns and cities
produce vital quantities of food but are disappearing at an
alarming rate. Every hectare of farmland lost is more than just a
statistical decline, it's an erosion of our countryside and our
fundamental national
resilience.
‘Farmers are being asked to produce
sustainable food, protect biodiversity, improve soil health and
combat climate change – all while facing unprecedented economic
challenges and pressures from development. Without proper support
systems in place, we risk losing not just farms close to towns
and cities but doing serious damage to the UK agricultural sector
overall.
‘The government should urgently join
up its policies on land use, food security and agricultural
support in a way that recognises the vital role of the
countryside around our towns and cities. This means strengthening
planning protections for agricultural land and providing the
necessary support to farmers to both put food on people's plates
and better manage the environment for future
generations.'
ENDS
The full report can be accessed
here: https://www.cpre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Farming-on-the-edge-FINAL.pdf
