Despite ‘significant pressure' on farmers to manage slurry better, they have found local authorities have rejected many applications for slurry stores, on the premise in the ‘immediate short-term emissions will temporarily increase'.
Defra has offered farmers a Slurry Infrastructure Grant to help replace, build new or expand existing slurry stores to provide up to six months' storage, but the funding is only available subject to planning permission granted by local authorities.
Defra
The second round of the Defra grant is expected to reopen in autumn, but a date has yet to be given.
Thomas Yule, a planning adviser at the NFU, said many local authorities ‘do not see the entrance into the grant scheme as enough' to go through with the approval of slurry infrastructure improvement projects.
He said: "Many applications are being refused because simply in the immediate short-term they will temporarily increase emissions, but after improvement works they will in fact reduce emissions.
"The Slurry Infrastructure Grant is an example of where the Government has realised this and is offering funding subject to grant of permission."
Planning applications
The NFU said it was working with local authority planning departments to educate them on the ‘massive benefits' slurry improvement can bring to the surrounding area.
It said: "We are writing letters of support with some members' applications, where the local authority is not fully understanding a proposal, or is needlessly blocking an application."
NFU has also raised concerns that the timescales of grant schemes and planning determination periods ‘do not always align'.
Grants and funding
Rob Davies, a dairy and poultry farmer in Herefordshire, who sits on the national dairy board, has had planning permission granted for a new slurry store, but has been unsuccessful in securing a grant in the first round of the scheme.
This is despite having the necessary funds, the planning in place and farming in the River Wye catchment, which has been widely publicised for having an issue with agricultural pollution.
"With loss of direct payments and to be compliant with the Clean Air Strategy and the new rules for water, we require grant assistance," said Mr Davies, adding the planning permission was drawn out.
He said ‘timeliness' and getting the local authority and the Rural Payment Agency (RPA) to ‘work in unison' was challenging.
He said: "In Herefordshire, our planning lasts for three years. We had planning in place six months before the infrastructure grant opened, but the three-year clock is ticking. Local authorities need to understand the RPA move at their own speed and they need to be quicker.
"It took us almost 12 months to get planning from start to finish and we had no objections from any of the compulsory consultees."
He advised other farmers to get pre-planning advice so they have a conduit to speak to their planning officer and to also positively engage with the Environmental Agency.
Wales
Despite the Slurry Infrastructure Grant only being available in England, the subject of planning and heightened regulatory compliance was also being felt by Welsh farmers.
NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said: "In some instances, the planning system is placing severe limitations on the ability of farmers to achieve regulatory compliance, also hindering access to Welsh Government investment support schemes within available timeframes.
"The need for a positive planning and development management service which enables farm businesses to meet changing regulatory requirements, innovate and expand cannot be overstated and we have raised these concerns with local authorities across Wales."
