In the King's Speech alongside the State Opening of Parliament, the new Labour government's legislative priorities were set out with a focus on delivering growth commitments. Several bills indicated in the speech will impact or provide an opportunity for UK environmental horticulture, including; planning, net-zero transition and retail crime.
UK Horticulture is a green growth industry that helps to deliver on crucial government ambitions, from economic to environmental, from net-zero to health and well-being. As a sector supporting nearly 700,000 jobs and £28.8 billion in GDP contributions, it must not be overlooked as a key UK business sector.
Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, commented: “The King’s Speech is the first clear indicator of the immediate legislative priorities of this new Government and we await the full details of the ambitions announced.
“While we see a growth agenda being pursued, as a sector, we can support the government to deliver on its ambitions. Environmental horticulture is a uniquely positioned industry, with significant potential for growth, delivering a stronger economy, biodiverse flora production to mitigate climate change, flooding and air pollution, greening urban areas and new developments, an increase in mental and physical health benefits and provide an exciting industry to start an apprenticeship or green career. I am really encouraged by the potential that our sector has.”
“We share the ambition to speed up planning as our businesses seek to grow, develop, and embed green space planning and maintenance from day one of designing the homes and urban green areas of our future.
“With an ambition to build 1.5million new homes, we urge the government to set out how developments should incorporate at least 29.5% space for garden density to maintain the current proportion of Britain’s urban residential gardens.
“We welcome the statement to “seek to reset the relationship with European partners and work to improve the UK's trade and investment relationship with the European Union”. The HTA continue to raise concerned over our member’s ability to import plant goods from the continent. We are calling on the government to ensure a veterinary and plant health agreement with the EU is a priority.
“The HTA have long called for apprenticeship levy reform and we are encouraged by the potential of the new Skills England body – we look forward to environmental horticulture being a prominent part of this so that the next generation of environmental horticulturalists will have clear skills, experience and career paths.
“In regards to employment reform, we are seeking for the government to be mindful of such impacts on SMEs (the vast majority of our membership) and their ability to run businesses that can flourish in local communities.
“Other legislative areas announced, include retail crime, terrorism prevention for large retail spaces, water and energy, are all critical issues impacting horticulture businesses. From retail theft, water resilience challenges to energy security, these all present huge costs to businesses across the sector. We look forward to engaging in the details of the legislation for the industry. We must see the sector to be supported in the transition to net zero. We are ready to help deliver on the ambition and mission to grow.”
The HTA set out its top priorities for a new government in The Environmental Horticulture Manifesto, in which the HTA urged the next government to government to recognise, realise and maximise the value of gardens and green spaces - an opportunity hoped to be grasped by this government.
