Author: Kerry Ashdown, Local Democracy Reporter
Published: 23rd March, 2026 @ 21:03
Updated: 23rd March, 2026
The County Farms Policy Statement was endorsed by Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet on Wednesday 18 March. It sets out a long term vision for the estate through to 2040, with farming remaining at the heart of its future.
The move follows recent questions over the promotion of two county farms in North Staffordshire for possible housing development through Newcastle Borough Council’s Local Plan. But councillors were told at the latest full county council meeting that Staffordshire County Council had written to the borough council earlier this month to withdraw all land from the county farms estate from that process.
Presenting the report to cabinet, acting council leader Martin Murray said the policy was about protecting one of the county’s key assets and giving clarity on how the land will be used in future.
He said,
“This sets out our long-term vision for one of our county’s most valuable assets. We have made it clear that farming and Staffordshire’s rural economy is a priority.”
He said Staffordshire’s county farms estate covers around 6,500 acres and includes 63 equipped holdings.
Mr Murray said,
“Staffordshire has one of the strongest and most respected farm estates in the country, covering around 6,500 acres and 63 equipped holdings, and it continues to play a vital role in supporting new entrants into farming, strengthening our rural economy and contributing to food security and the natural environment.
“The estate also continues to deliver excellent financial performance, generating over £734,000 of net income in the last financial year into the county council.”
The policy sets out five main objectives, including supporting people entering farming, backing rural enterprise, improving biodiversity and natural capital, increasing the estate’s social and commercial value, and maintaining clear governance.
A key section of the policy deals with land use, and makes plain that county farmland will not be promoted through the planning process.
Mr Murray said,
“This council will not promote county farmland for the planning process and we are absolutely committed to protecting farmland for farming.
“Similarly, the policy confirms that large scale solar farms and battery storage schemes will not be supported on the estate. We will, however, encourage small scale renewable technologies on farm buildings where they are complementary to agriculture.”
That means the council is drawing a line between renewable energy projects on a larger scale and smaller changes that support farm businesses without taking land out of agricultural use.
Councillor Patrick Allen welcomed the document during the cabinet meeting, describing it as
“a brilliant policy and well thought-out”.
The policy does leave room for limited land or property disposals in exceptional cases, but the council said these would be incidental and non-core sites, rather than productive farmland.
Mr Murray said any receipts from such sales could be reinvested into the estate.
He added that the council’s position was “clear and unequivocal”, with “no productive county farmland” to be put forward for housing development.
For communities in North Staffordshire, that is likely to be the part of the policy that draws the most attention, after recent concern over county farm land being included in the Local Plan process.
Kerry Ashdown, Local Democracy Reporter | 18th March 2026
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