Resident asks North Somerset Council Executive to declare a Food Security Emergency. Show your support for local farmers by contacting your district councillors, NSC Planning Dept & MP.
On the 17 July 2024 a resident addressed North Somerset Council Executive asking them to call a Food Security Emergency. This was based on the fact that, if the council has called a Climate and Nature Emergency, and food depends on both the climate and nature, then it follows that there will be a food security issue. By 18th Nov 2025 DEFRA minister states, "WE ARE, QUITE SIMPLY, IN A FOOD AND FARMING EMERGENCY".
Westminster Hall Debate: Impact of land use change on food security 18 Nov 2025
Video 1hr 30mins and Hansard Transcript (PDF)
"Protecting farmland, resisting unnecessary encroachment on the green belt and supporting farming families are not about nostalgia—far from it; they are practical steps towards a secure and resilient food system. If we get those choices and decisions right, we can deliver the homes we need and safeguard our ability to produce food. If we get them wrong, the consequences will be felt for generations"
Local Plans are essential to protecting our local and national food security as heard in the debate above.
- Robbie Moore MP Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) said, "As a result of the choices that the Government have made over the last 16 or so months, WE ARE, QUITE SIMPLY, IN A FOOD AND FARMING EMERGENCY"
- Bradley Thomas MP said, "I do not dispute the need for more housing in the country ... as a result of choices made by this Government, our housing target has increased by 85% while the housing target in adjacent Birmingham has decreased by more than 30%? Every area has to take its fair share, but does she agree that that is a grossly unfair imbalance?" [NB
- Dame Angela Eagle Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs response, "It is not up to me to take decisions about local planning issues of that kind. THAT IS WHAT LOCAL PLANS ARE FOR." (info)
- NSC state, "National security risks, like food security, are managed through government policy rather than at local authority level."
- NB: CPRE 24 Sept 25 "Our new research reveals that there is enough brownfield land to build 1.4m homes in England, and more than half of these sites already have planning permission (either outline permission or better), meaning they could be built on rapidly" (report). So limited farmland doesn't need to be built on.
Contact info:
- North Somerset, represented by Labour MP Sadik Al-Hassan Weston-super-Mare, represented by Labour MP Dan Aldridge Wells and Mendip Hills, represented by Liberal Democrat MP Tessa Munt
- Distr Cllr Solomon and District Cllr Porter
- Bleadon Parish Council
- North Somerset District Councillors
- North Somerset Council Planning Policy Team regarding the Local Plan
CORRESPONDENCE WITH NORTH SOMERSET COUNCIL SUPPORTING FARMERS Compare land protect for agrigulture Policy DP53 to protection for open space and recreation DP52 Also DP8 (Efficient use of land) SEE RELATED LOCAL PLAN CONSULTATION BLOG
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| DATE | TOPIC |
Westminster Hall Debate: Impact of land use change on food security 18 Nov 2025 Video 1hr 30mins and Hansard Transcript (PDF) | |
NSC Local Plan Consultation 2041: Pre-submission Consultation (Reg 19) (BOB blog) | |
NSC & WECA Food Security Plans, Strategies and Policies Minuted response (24OCT25 PDF) Extract "National security risks, like food security, are managed through government policy rather than at local authority level. However, as set out in a reply shared with .... the Health and Wellbeing Board, there are a range of ways that we work to improve outcomes connected to food and we will continue to focus on what benefits we can bring to our local communities" Food processing and distribution not production? Also a request that Food Security is added reports in the Climate Change and Environmental Implications section, to help achieve a more considered strategic approach to food security - no clear repsonse. Original H&WB speech 29JUL24 | |
Local Devolution Programme and land use referencing Small Holdings and Allotments Act - awaitng response as of 18NOV25. NSC Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment has confirmed, but not quantified that, "The council does own a small number of smallholdings ranging from single fields of circa 0.6 ha used for grazing up to farms of circa 56.5ha.... a number of these assets have been identified through the Council’s Development Programme as potential future development sites" i.e. sites in the currently proposed Local Plan. (04DEC25) See related NSC Local Plan Consultation blog | |
Government launches "Good Food Cycle" to transform Britain's food system New "Good Food Cycle" framework serves up healthier eating, stronger food security and greener supply chains (PDF) | |
BOB response to NSC Local Plan Regulation 19 - Additional Sites Consultation Thousands of new houses planned for North Somerset - Bleadon was originally scheduled for 42 houses at the quarry - now potentially 191! From approx 15% village increase to 55% increase!! | |
| Response to Cllr Canniford following Regulation 19 - Additional Sites Consultation at the library NSC response "This is very tricky for the council as they do understand the points you are making. The problem we face in terms of Plan making, is that if we do not find suitable land for development as required in the NPPF we will be forced by the planning inspectorate to allow sites, regardless of their suitability or location. As you are aware the biggest issue here is that some farmers and landowners want their land developed, so in that case we have a legal requirement to consider its illegibility in planning terms. I appreciate the report and will give it due considerations, but we still have a long wat to go to meet enforced housing targets".(24FEB25) | |
Member of the public addressed NSC Health & Wellbeing Board 29JUL24 and 30OCT24 with response published in 12FEB25 minutes item 22 - additional documents. | |
| NSC Consultation Local Plan Consultation Regulation 19 - Additional Sites Consultation (BOB blog) | |
| DEFRA Land Use Consultation - What was NSC response? (PDF) Especially considering the Westminster debate on the impact of land use change on food security (18NOV25) | |
| FOI request "What is the total overall impact on food production (broken down into food categories) from farmland and total number of acres of farmland that will be lost to solar and / or property development within North Somerset by implementing NSC Local Plan as set out in the most recent draft?" Response 28FEB25 "We do not hold the information in the requested format" No reponse to latte question. | |
| Member of public sought "...information about the Council’s position with respect to the long-term effects of eating ‘alternative” foods, with less dairy and meat together with her view that the Board should prioritise and protect farming, dairy production and related land, to deliver natural food and include this in all North Somerset Council policies, plans and activities" (see published response 12FEB25) | |
| NSC Executive meeting re: Food Security, Rural Culture & WECA (NSC Minutes and response in Appendix 1 pg12 clearly indicating that N Somerset is not food secure, only Broadly!!) No clear answers to emailed questions? NSC responses | |
| NSC Executive meeting re: Food Security & WECA (NSC Minutes and response no published in minutes?) 04OCT24 | |
| 30JUL24
| NPPFConsultation July 2024 Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system (PDF and govt response) What was NSC's response in relation to land use and food security? NB Footnote 63 subsequently removed from NPPF that previously stated, "The availability of agricultural land used for food production should be considered, alongside the other policies in this Framework, when deciding what sites are most appropriate for development"!! |
| NSC Health and Wellbeing Board - resident spoke re: dairy, farming and nutritition of alternative food (NSC Minutes and see published response 12FEB25) | |
| NSC Transport Climate and Communities Policy and Scrutiny Scrutiny Panel - request for update following 06DEC23 and 30NOV23 addresses to NSC | |
| NSC Exec - resident requests a Food Security Emergency 16SEP24 | |
19DEC23 &
| Request for support for farming to all NSC Town & Parish Councils |
| Presentation at NSC Executive Committee Regarding concerns over Farming, Food Production and Food Security. Meeting with Cllrs Canniford & Waite on 16JAN24, they suggested they would put forward a Local Plan SPD in relation to farming, food production and security. |
30NOV23 incl Farm Video
| NSC Transport, Climate and Communities Policy and Scrutiny Panel |
| NSC Consultation Local Plan 2039 pre-submission consultation (BOB Blog) | |
| NSC Consultation Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) SPD Consultation response |
| NSC Consultation Draft Rural Strategy Considerations NSC Rural Strategy 2024-2028 published? |
| Previous BOB Local Plan presentation and April 2022 Consultation submissions |
Related links:
 | CO2Coalition website and Quiz |
 | Engaging Local Authorities Sustainable Food Places 2018 (PDF) |
 | Bridport Food Security Plan (PDF) |
 | New Sustainable Food & Farming Conference for the South West 22-23 November 2024 Bath & West Showground and Global Summit Version |
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