The government has launched a consultation to devise a new, strategic approach to sustainable land use in England, equipping decision makers with the information required to maximise land potential and safeguard national food security, without compromising the environment.
The Land Use Framework will provide the principles, advanced data and toolkit required to support informed decision-making by local government, landowners, businesses, farmers, and nature groups, to make the most of the finite resource.
This consultation will explore the land use changes required under government commitments to restore nature, support food production, improve climate resilience and deliver new housing and infrastructure.
The consultation will comprise of government run workshops across the country which will bring farmers, landowners and local governments together, to facilitate a “national conversation” directly revolving around the insights of the people who manage the land.
In addition to this, a consultation questionnaire can be found on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website, which aims to generate further engagement from stakeholders.
The government confirmed that the data garnered on how land is used, will underpin its Plan for Change agenda, which aims to help local governments sustain economic growth through the creation of 1.5 million homes, clean energy resources and critical infrastructure.
Speaking at the launch at the Royal Geographical Society on January 31, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Steve Reed, established the principles behind the new initiative. He said:
“Today is the start of a national conversation to transform how we use land in this country. It’s time for policy to leave the chambers of Westminster and reflect the actual lived experiences of farmers, landowners and planners on the ground.
“Using the most sophisticated land use data ever published, we will transform how we use our land to deliver on our Plan for Change. That means enabling the protection of prime agricultural land, restoring our natural world and driving economic growth.
“This framework will not tell people what to do, it is about working together to pool our knowledge and resources, to give local and national government, landowners, businesses, farmers and nature groups the data and tools needed to take informed actions that are best for them, the land, and the country.”
The consultation will run for 12 weeks, closing on April 25, with the final Land Use Framework expected to be published later in the year, which will deliver a key manifesto commitment under the Plan for Change, the government stated.
According to the government, the Land Use Framework will not be used to dictate how farmers use their land nor will it replace the planning system.
Instead, the framework will reflect the feedback generated during the consultation and will set out a direction for England’s land use while acknowledging the various challenges confronting land managers.
AHDB has welcomed the opportunity to engage and to share insights with policy makers during the consultation, which it said, its representatives will use to present an independent analysis of the key challenges and needs of the farming sector.
Responding to the announcement of the consultation, an AHDB representative said: “There will need to be careful consideration of the longer-term affect upon food security and the potential financial impact on farmers.
“The balance of incentivising food production with creating a vibrant environment is a key challenge, AHDB is ready to play its part in ensuring levy payers views are heard and clear independent evidence is used to assess the potential impact of proposed policy changes.”
