Regenerative agriculture: how can infrastructure developers avoid time delays and extra costs?

David Warner, Associate Surveyor at Dalcour Maclaren, digs into the growing regenerative agriculture movement to unearth the steps infrastructure developers can take to turn it into an ally rather than a constraint. 

In this article:

• 5 regenerative agriculture considerations for infrastructure developers
• The benefits for developers that embrace regenerative agriculture
• Infrastructure vs. regenerative farming: finding a common ground
• The DM difference

After decades of intensive farming practices, this sentiment is resonating with a growing number of UK farmers. They are increasingly turning to regenerative agriculture to restore soil health, protect water cycles and build resilience against climate change. 

“Despite all our accomplishments, we owe our existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.”

This quote, attributed to American radio broadcaster Paul Harvey, serves as a powerful reminder to me that despite our technological progress, healthy soil remains fundamental to human life. 

In many ways, the move to regenerative agriculture is inspiring. Once seen as a fringe movement, it is now a practical, science-backed response to the environmental and economic challenges facing modern farming. However, for infrastructure developers, operating in or near regenerative agriculture areas presents new challenges.

Whether it’s energy, roads or Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), developers are encountering a new combination of risks and opportunities. And failing to account for regenerative land management at the start of the project planning process can lead to time delays, unexpected costs and reputational damage. 

5 regenerative agriculture considerations for infrastructure developers

As regenerative farming transforms rural land use, infrastructure developers must employ smarter, soil-sensitive approaches that protect both projects and ecosystems. Many of these considerations wouldn’t arise with more conventional agricultural practices. 

1. Land use and project siting

Infrastructure developers and their agents must take care to map regenerative farming areas early to avoid conflicts with farmers and reduce relocation disputes. Developers must also be mindful that farms involved in regenerative agriculture typically have greater ecological value and can trigger additional requirements for environmental reviews.

Soil health is another significant hurdle. Infrastructure works can cause soil compaction and contamination, potentially leading to costly remediation. That’s why developers must take particular care to avoid disturbing topsoil layers, minimise the use of heavy machinery and employ erosion control measures where possible.

2. Regulatory and permitting

There are often additional regulatory and permitting requirements when working on or near regenerative farms. For example, these farms can foster native species, pollinators and wildlife corridors. Overlooking these features in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), can lead to revisions and mitigation requirements that increase costs and cause delays.  

Many regenerative agriculture farms also participate in carbon programmes. Inadvertently interfering without prior consultation can expose developers to legal challenges and potential liabilities. 

3. Hydrology and water management

Regenerative agriculture farms often utilise ponds, contour farming and swales to enhance water infiltration and retention while reducing runoff. These schemes can lead to significant project redesign costs if they’re not built into the planning process.

Disrupting natural water flows and drainage patterns, or contaminating ground or surface water, can also lead to flooding and erosion, resulting in significant compensation claims. And developers should seek to integrate with existing water retention systems to reduce stormwater management costs. 

4. Community and stakeholder relations

Infrastructure developers working near regenerative agriculture projects can benefit from collaborating with farmers and the local community. Regenerative Agriculture farmers are often organised in cooperatives and NGOs, and ignoring these networks can lead to public opposition, media campaigns and significant delays.

Early consultation and designing projects with co-benefits, such as shared water infrastructure and renewable energy links, can get stakeholder buy-in and accelerate approvals. 

5. Construction practices

Another key consideration is the potential impact of the construction process on soil health. Minimising heavy machinery traffic reduces soil compaction. However, if disruption is unavoidable, developers must be proactive in negotiating fair compensation and exploring mitigation. 

Developers should also seek to align their infrastructure design with landscape restoration goals. That includes incorporating low-impact alternatives wherever possible and creating buffer zones to protect tree belts and hedgerows. 

The benefits for developers that embrace regenerative agriculture

Many infrastructure developers view regenerative agriculture as an obstacle that complicates land acquisition, planning and construction timelines. However, it can also bring opportunities to developers who choose to work with it, rather than against it. For example:

• Lower operation and maintenance costs - Land managed regeneratively tends to have healthier soil, better drainage and more stable ecosystems. That can translate to reduced erosion, runoff and drainage issues, and ultimately, longer asset lifespans and lower maintenance needs.
• Alignment with ESG goals - Environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance is a key concern for infrastructure developers, investors, regulators and local communities. By collaborating with farmers, developers can show their commitment to land stewardship and enhance their reputation.
• Opportunities for joint projects - There is growing potential for shared value projects between developers and regenerative landholders. Developers are increasingly partnering with farmers in carbon offset and water resilience schemes that deliver mutual benefits.
• Improved community relations and planning outcomes - Engaging proactively with farmers and local communities can also build goodwill and reduce the risk of planning obligations and delays. In some areas, this level of engagement is becoming an expectation from planning authorities and stakeholders rather than best practice.

Infrastructure vs. regenerative farming: finding common ground 

In my experience, infrastructure developers often encounter significant pushback from regenerative agriculture farmers. And from the landowner’s perspective, you can understand why.

The developers are coming along and saying that infrastructure projects are essential for the UK to meet its Net Zero targets.

The reply from landowners is often, “Well, hang on. You’re doing this to improve the environment, but you’re going to cut a 50-metre swathe through my farm, which is already sequestering carbon and enhancing biodiversity.” 

In the short term, they’re right. It doesn’t appear to make a lot of sense. From the farmer’s point of view, the project looks like it’s removing part of the solution to make way for another one, without fully accounting for what’s being lost. 

That disconnect fuels frustration, and when regenerative practices are impacted, it raises serious questions not only about land use priorities but also about the credibility of the developer’s environmental claims. 

This issue is also in the media spotlight. And when an infrastructure project affects a regenerative farm, the reputational fallout is often greater than if a conventional farm were impacted. That’s particularly true at a local level, where community awareness and support for regenerative practices tend to be high.

That’s why, in this instance, early and active consultation really is key. You need to ensure that the landowner and the wider community understand the steps you will take to mitigate the project's impact and get things back on track. That allows you to collaborate on win-win solutions that protect both the infrastructure needs and ecological goals. 

You also need to design infrastructure projects that complement, rather than displace, regenerative practices. These steps also help to build community goodwill, reducing the risk of planning objections and legal challenges in the future. 

The DM difference

The interface between infrastructure development, corporate land ownership and farming is constantly shifting. At Dalcour Maclaren, we are at the forefront of this changing landscape, helping our infrastructure clients adopt a new mindset that keeps them ahead of rural land use challenges. 

“Working with the land, rather than simply through it, is one of the most forward-thinking decisions infrastructure developers can make.”

A crucial part of the process is acknowledging that every farm is different. Infrastructure developers must take a tailored approach to planning and consents for each project. That must be based on an in-depth understanding of field drainage systems, seasonal working and soil structures, as well as the importance of protecting tree belts, hedgerows and rotational grazing areas.

At DM, we hold unrivalled data about land use and the attributes of the land. We know exactly what’s on the ground and where, from cropping rotations and access routes to drainage issues and watersheds. That enables us to advise clients on the design of their projects to avoid actions that could undo years of regenerative work.  

We also have a broad range and depth of expertise, which includes specialist agriculture liaison teams. They engage regenerative agriculture landowners with intelligence, respect and foresight to create agreements that benefit all parties. That speeds up the planning and approval processes, reduces the risk of disputes and prevents reputational damage.

Working with the land, rather than simply through it, is one of the most forward-thinking decisions infrastructure developers can make. As a centre of excellence for rural land management issues, we are best placed to help developers view regenerative agriculture as a strategic ally, rather than a constraint.  

To discuss infrastructure developments and their impact on regenerative agriculture or any other aspect of our work, please get in touch with our specialist contact or give us a call on 0333 188 5310.