Allow the right to live on one’s own land

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The idea

Planning law makes it difficult for individuals to live in a modest way on thier own agricultural land. While planners should protect the countryside from overdevelopment, current planning law and practice presents a major obstacle to individuals who wish to cultivate the land and achieve a measure of self-sufficiency.

Everyone should have the right on live on the land they farm, and to do so is a basic civil liberty. Ludicrous planning laws conspire to make living on the land either expensive or difficult to achieve – or both.

Provision should be made for smallholders and farmers to live on the land. This need not be incompatible with preventing the countryside filling-up with houses. Dwellings could be modest or temporary in nature. The right to establsh them for genuine agricultural need is not fully supported by the planning system in England and Wales.

Why is it important?

Because the UK needs to make better use of its land, and encourage agriculture that builds biodiversity, and ensures a living countryside where people can afford to live and work.

Good husbandry must be encouraged, and those who wish to increase the fertility of the earth by their industry should be supported.

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