Polytunnel row unlikely to affect Scottish fruit growers

A decision in England that using polytunnels to grow fruit might in future need planning permission is unlikely to affect Scotland's £32 million soft-fruit industry.

Parts of Scotland, notably the strawberry and raspberry heartland of Tayside, have been covered by an increasing amount of plastic as growers use tunnels to extend growing seasons and counter bad weather.

In other areas, notably the Lothians and the Borders, large acreages disappear each summer under white plastic fleece used to keep pests, such as turnip fly, off growing crops.

Plastic cover in some parts of England, such as Worcestershire, Kent and Surrey is more extreme. Anti-plastic campaigners have welcomed a decision this week that polytunnels could now need planning permission, although it was emphasised that a planning inspector's decision in Surrey was not a test case.

The planning inspector's ruling was that the size of polytunnels, their permanence and physical attachment to the land comprise a building operation and should be subject to the same rules.

The decision centred on enforcement notices requiring the removal of polytunnels and mobile homes from Tuesley fruit farm near Godalming, upheld on appeal after an 11-day public inquiry.

The planning inspector concluded that, contrary to the contentions of the landowners, the polytunnels and mobile homes needed planning permission - which he then refused to grant.

He concluded: "In the balance that has to be drawn between the needs of this agricultural enterprise and environmental impact arising from the presence of the polytunnels, I am firmly of the view that those agricultural needs will be outweighed by the harm done to the countryside."

It was emphasised this was not "a test case". Growers in England do not expect this to set a national precedent and a Scottish Executive spokeswoman said: "In Scotland, such polytunnels are considered to be temporary structures and so come under permitted developments."

Andrew Arbuckle, a Liberal Democrat MSP with specialist knowledge of fruit growing, said: "There has been a transformation in the Scottish soft-fruit industry through the use of polytunnels.

"Local planning authorities should be notified, but I do not want to see official planning permission required. It might be best if a code of good practice is introduced."

The NFU of England and Wales said polytunnels were essential in allowing British growers to deliver high-quality, local fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries and cherries, for more months in the year and meeting public demand, which would normally be met by growers from the United States and the continent.

The union also claimed that the tunnels reduce pesticide use, produce and develop organically grown varieties.

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