The reclamation of derelict land for agriculture: Technical, economic and land-use planning issues

Abstract

The paper focusses on the reclamation of derelict land for agriculture with particular reference to colliery spoil schemes in North West England. After outlining Government policy on land reclamation, it gives detail of the progress made in reclamation and the after-uses identified on reclaimed land. The paper goes on to discuss the technical problems of reclaiming derelict land and assesses its agricultural potential. It then considers the factors which affect the agricultural management of reclaimed land, including site design, farm structure and urban-fringe problems. Future trends in reclamation are examined, as influenced by recent changes in Government grant schemes and in the nature of derelict land itself (an increase in urban dereliction and a decline in the relative importance of colliery sites). Alternatives to current land uses on reclamation sites and possible changes in the technical approach to reclamation are briefly discussed. The paper concludes that, judged in purely economic terms, the costs of agricultural reclamation are very high in comparison to the output and employment generated by such schemes. However, it is pointed out that most schemes have been designed to achieve an environmental rather than an economic impact. It is considered that the main benefit of reclamation schemes to agriculture is attained not by farming reclaimed land, but by using it for housing, industrial and other “hard” after-uses and so reducing the amount of good-quality farmland lost to development. There are some hopeful signs in this respect.