Review of policy for future use of Norfolk farmland agreed

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 24th Oct 2007

Lib Dems welcome review of policy of selling off Norfolk farmland

An enquiry into the future use of 18,000 acres of council-owned Norfolk farmland was finally given permission to proceed yesterday after being delayed for more than a year.

Norfolk County Council currently holds about 7012 hectares of farmland which have been used historically to provide homecoming servicemen with somewhere to live and a means of supporting themselves and their families after the First and Second World Wars. Since then the smallholdings have provided a first step for new entrants into farming.

But in recent years the Estate has been retained and managed more as an investment portfolio to produce a commercial rate of return from the combination of income and capital receipts received each year.

Members of the opposition groups at Norfolk County Council have been expressing a desire to review the Council's farmland policy since early 2006 but have only now managed to secure clear agreement from the ruling Conservative group to proceed with the work.

Liberal Democrat Leader, Paul Morse, says:

" It is great news that this important work can now be undertaken. Since the world wars County-owned farmland has played an important role in providing Norfolk residents with secure homes and supporting the farming industry.

I believe this land still has the potential to play its part in meeting the challenges facing today's residents but a review is urgently needed of what the long term plans are for its use. I would like to see the planned investigation consider, for example, how the Council's farmland could be used more strategically to support conservation or renewable energy production, to help protect Norfolk from flooding or to provide more affordable housing for those on low incomes in rural areas."