Archive Blog: Reforms to national planning policy are underway: what’s at stake for food and farming?
A revised National Planning Policy Framework for England is expected later this Spring and longer-term changes await legislation that will come out of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill currently going through parliament. Read more about what’s at stake and key points from our response to the government’s consultation on reforms to planning policies.
Planning Food Cities | Tuesday 7 March 2023
Archive News: Sustain and allies urge MPs to address children’s food in national planning policies
Sustain, alongside other organisations including The Food Foundation and Food Active, are urging the Government to champion children's health in the current planning inquiry by stemming the flood of unhealthy food.
Planning Food Cities | Tuesday 13 February 2024
Archive News: Updated National Planning Policy for England falls flat
Sustain’s call for national planning policies for England which will achieve an environmentally friendly, healthy, equitable and secure food and farming system falls on fallow ground.
Planning Food Cities | Monday 8 January 2024
News: Quarter of UK councils depend on food partnerships to deliver on food security and public health
Sustainable Food Places network calls for MPs to recognise local food partnerships as essential national infrastructure for delivering health, climate and economic priorities.
Sustainable Food Places | Thursday 6 November 2025
News: Secure food supply - Food and farming group call on Defra to pilot a Food Hub Fund
The Prime Minister has hosted a summit to discuss the issues UK farmers face and what can be done to make the country more food secure. This group of organisations is calling on Defra to pilot a fund that would help new food enterprises work with farmers across England for a fairer and more resilient food supply.
Sustainable Farming Campaign | Monday 22 May 2023
News: Fair Food Futures: tackling food insecurity through local food provision
Fair Food Futures UK research team release first report on local level community food provision, highlighting examples from Bradford and Tower Hamlets, and recommendations for tackling food insecurity through local coordinated work.
Food Poverty | Wednesday 7 August 2024
Reports: Investing in a better food future: the innovative role of food partnerships
As the cost of living crisis continues to affect communities and supply chain disruptions further put pressure on food access, now is the time to invest in local food economies and community food access – into production, distribution and infrastructure that improve access to healthy and sustainable food, creating good food jobs, fair returns for farmers, healthy communities and a pride of place. This briefing makes the case for harnessing the power and vision of Sustainable Food Places food partnerships to deliver the above, and for a Good Food Bill in every UK nation to set a long-term and consistent strategy on food.
Sustain | Monday 5 June 2023
News: Sustainable Food Places network urges Government to invest in local food economies
Food partnerships from across the UK convene alongside MPs in Parliament to call on Government to invest in local food economies, shorter supply chains, and community food access. The event showcases the innovative role of food partnerships in transforming their local economies and communities through the power of food.
Sustainable Food Places | Wednesday 14 June 2023
News: Government shares vision for a healthier, greener food system in newly published ‘Good Food Cycle’
Improved food environments that encourage healthy eating and fairness and transparency in supply chains to better support food producers are amongst the key outcomes set out by Defra in this latest publication.
Sustain | Tuesday 15 July 2025
Events: Food Partnerships as a tool for local food systems change
An introduction for councils or those new to local food systems work.
Sustainable Food Places | Thursday 29 January 2026
Sustainable Food Places: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
