England’s first Land Use Framework sets out a plan for managing the country’s finite land more efficiently.
Marking a “significant shift” in how the government intends to oversee land resources, it aims to balance the demands of housing, food production, nature recovery and renewable energy.
The framework was developed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) after public consultation. It provides principles, data and tools to guide national and local government, landowners, and developers. With proposals to be completed by 2030 and 2050, the framework sets out to support nature recovery, food security and climate action, as well as delivering 1.5 million new homes.
The proposals offer a plan for managing land to ensure the nation’s “long-term resilience”, suggesting that by 2030, we will see “restored peatlands, healthier coastal habitats, expanded wetlands, and canopy cover lining our urban streets”.
It will also include “optimised and resilient food production plans”. More rights and greater certainty will be offered to tenant farmers, who manage a third of England’s farmland, by reforming the Farm Tenancy Forum to give them a greater role in policy making.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:
“Our land is a vital national asset, but it is finite. We cannot be held back by the false choices between building homes and producing food, restoring nature and supporting farmers, or delivering clean energy and protecting landscapes.
With better data, smarter tools and strategic planning, we can meet all these needs. This ensures people can manage their land in the way that works best for them while unlocking growth, strengthening food security and protecting our environment.”
While the framework does not introduce immediate legal changes, it is intended to guide future planning and land use decisions across England.
Welcoming the publication of the framework, CPRE (formerly Campaign to Protect Rural England) chief executive Roger Mortlock said:
“The Land Use Framework is a long-awaited opportunity for real change. It promises serious integration across government departments, which could help ensure we finally make the most of our finite supply of land.
“But even the best intentions won’t change the fact that every hectare of land is being pulled in multiple directions.
“Economic growth should not be prioritised at any cost to the countryside. How tradeoffs are managed locally and nationally – and the degree to which the framework is integrated with other spatial strategies – will be key to its success.
“The UK is facing a land crunch of unprecedented proportions. We can overcome it, but delivery matters as much as ambition.”
The government intends to establish a “dedicated Land Use Unit to drive delivery of the framework and produce England’s first single map of national spatial priorities for Defra“, to align national and local strategies and allow more effective spatial planning for infrastructure and growth. It is intended to “accelerate decision-making and give more certainty to investors and developers”.
The government also intends the framework will be updated every five years to “reflect progress and incorporate evolving data and evidence” by publishing further iterations.
