Support announced for farmers and growers to manage impact of prolonged dry weather
The government announced new support to help manage the impact of prolonged dry weather and record-breaking temperatures, including a £65m funding boost for farmers and growers.
The package includes:
- Action to make it easier to build reservoirs, including reducing unnecessary barriers and updating planning guidance.
- Improved access to water during drought conditions, including Environment Agency support and simpler water access arrangements.
While the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) welcomes this support, it stresses that it also needs to work for environmental horticulture.
David Denny, director of research and knowledge transfer at the HTA, says:
“The reopening of the Water Management Grant, past rounds of which have provided vital access to investment in water resilience for growers, is a positive step, and we will be signposting it to our members, contingent on its continued inclusion of horticulture. Our HTA members are already investing in water resilience, with 52% having on-site reservoirs. However, another 24% would like to build one, with the main barriers being planning and access to investment finance. We have long called for clearer planning guidance for reservoirs and welcome the commitment to publish this in September. Crucially, it must also work for our sector and enable growers to invest in the water storage and recycling they need.
“As ever, the devil will be in the detail. Funding levels, eligibility, technical requirements, investment thresholds, and planning and abstraction arrangements will all determine whether these measures result in the construction of reservoirs on the ground.
“Our members need confidence that planning, investment support, and access to water will align to support UK plant and tree production and establishment. Building genuine water resilience for environmental horticulture will require a planning and regulatory system that enables growers to invest in the future resilience of their businesses, rather than having to respond once water is already scarce.”