HC Deb 27 April 1978 vol 948 cc640-1W
Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the grade of agricultural land at Holland Farm, Cornwood Road, Chaddlewood, Cornwood, South Devon.

Mr. Bishop

The land is graded 2—land of high quality—and 3a—valuable land for a wide range of agricultural uses—under the Ministry's agricultural land classification system.

Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy towards the preservation of the good agricultural land at Holland Farm, Cornwood Road, Chaddlewood, Cornwood, South Devon, which is currently threatened by house development.

Mr. Bishop

When he is consulted by the local planning authority, my Department's divisional surveyor at Exeter will consider such a proposal in the light of the Government's policy for the protection of agricultural land. This policy is to ensure that as far as possible land of a higher agricultural quality is not taken for development where land of a lower quality is available and that the amount of land is no greater than is reasonably required for carrying out the development in accordance with proper standards.

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