Agricultural Land

The proposed development would replace productive farmland with housing, permanently changing part of the landscape that has helped shape New Romney for generations. Explore why this land matters, what national planning policy says and why many residents believe it should be protected.

Once It’s Gone, It’s Gone

Agricultural land is one of our most valuable and irreplaceable resources. It provides the space to grow food, supports rural livelihoods and helps maintain the countryside that has shaped communities like New Romney for generations. Unlike many other types of land, once productive farmland is covered by roads, driveways and buildings, it is effectively lost forever. Every decision to build on agricultural land is permanent, making it essential that these choices are made with great care and only where there is a clear and compelling need.

Far More Than a Field

The fields north of Cockreed Lane are far more than open spaces on a map. They support food production, provide habitats for wildlife, absorb rainfall, store carbon within their soils and contribute to the rural landscape that defines the setting of New Romney. These natural benefits are delivered every day, often unnoticed, yet they play an important role in supporting biodiversity, reducing flood risk and preserving the character of our local area. Looking at a field and seeing ’empty land’ overlooks everything it already provides.

Build on Yesterday, Not Tomorrow

Not all land is equal. National planning policy encourages the effective use of previously developed (brownfield) land, helping to regenerate disused sites while reducing unnecessary pressure on productive countryside. Brownfield regeneration can create new homes, revitalise neglected areas and protect valuable farmland at the same time. Before agricultural land is permanently lost, it is reasonable to ask whether suitable brownfield sites and other alternatives have been fully explored and whether this is truly the most appropriate location for development.

What the Developer Says

“The site comprises of 11.3 acres (4.6 hectares) of agricultural land…”

This proposal is not simply about the loss of 11.3 acres. Every planning application that replaces farmland with housing contributes to a much wider national trend. Across England, agricultural land continues to disappear year after year, meaning each individual decision has a cumulative impact. Protecting farmland is not just about this field—it’s about preventing the gradual erosion of our countryside, one development at a time.

“…The site lies immediately adjacent to the defined settlement confines of New Romney…

Development at the edge of a town does more than add new homes—it changes where the town ends. Once the settlement boundary expands, future proposals can point to that new edge as justification for further expansion. Decisions made today therefore influence not only this application, but where development pressure may fall in years to come.

“…Our vision is to deliver a diverse range of new homes… set within attractive green spaces…”

Landscaped open space can provide attractive places to live, but it is not the same as working agricultural land. Public green spaces are designed for recreation, whereas farmland supports food production, rural livelihoods and contributes to the local economy. One cannot simply replace the other.

“…Existing trees and hedgerows will be retained where possible…”

Retaining existing trees and hedgerows is positive, but they form only part of the wider agricultural landscape. The value of a field lies not just in its boundaries, but in the open land itself, the soils beneath it and the role it plays within the wider countryside. Preserving hedgerows does not preserve the field they surround.

Fact Check

✓ The UK produces just 65% of the food it is capable of supplying, highlighting the importance of protecting productive agricultural land for future food security.¹

✓ Agriculture employs more than 452,900 people across the UK, supporting rural communities and contributing £14.5 billion to the UK economy each year.¹

✓ Food, feed and drink exports from the UK were worth £25.7 billion in 2025, demonstrating the continuing importance of British agriculture and food production.²

✓ CPRE’s analysis found that there is enough brownfield land in England to accommodate approximately 1.4 million new homes.³

✓ More than 770,000 potential homes on brownfield land already have outline or full planning permission, meaning many could be delivered without building on additional greenfield sites.³

✓ The number of brownfield sites identified as suitable for development increased by 16% in the latest assessment, demonstrating that brownfield is a continually renewing resource.³