An independent Land Use Commission tasked with producing
a land use framework covering food, nature,
forestry, energy, housing needs and the push for net zero is
essential to make the most out of England’s land. This
is one of the key recommendations in a report published today
entitled Making the most out of England’s
land from the cross-party House of Lords Land Use in England
Committee.
The report urges the Government to set up the Land Use Commission
as a statutory body and argues that the Commission should prepare
and update the land use framework as part of its role.
The framework should seek to help balance food production
with other emerging land use needs.
Other key conclusions and recommendations from the Committee’s
report include:
The current uncertainty around the Environmental Land Management
Schemes (ELMS) programme is causing serious problems for
effective land use. The Government must provide immediate
clarity on the ELMS programme to give certainty and confidence to
the farmers and other land managers.
A multifunctional approach to the land, with multiple benefits
being achieved in the same place, must be an essential component
of the land use framework. This approach must be supported with
an up to date and accessible evidence base. The concepts
of integration and multifunctionality are key to success. The aim
of the framework should be to replace the current siloed approach
to land use policy with a deliberative and cooperative technique
in order to make use of the opportunities and synergies that
provides.
Access to green spaces is important for health and wellbeing,
especially in urban and peri-urban locations near where people
live. Access to green space must be a priority in a
land use framework, and provision and maintenance of accessible
green space must also be strengthened in existing
policies.
A land use framework must operate seamlessly alongside any local
current planning and development policies and should also
be cognizant of housing and development needs in particular areas
as well as supporting infrastructure. The planning
system should be strengthened to help support nature and
agriculture alongside new development, and to encourage better
cross-border working. Urgent attention needs to be given
to ensure that planning departments are properly resourced with
the necessary skills, and local authorities should be encouraged
to share expertise and work together.
Commenting on the report of Dillington, Chair of the
Land Use in England Committee, said;
“Land use in England is facing a growing number of conflicting
pressures and demands including for food, nature, biodiversity,
net zero targets, housing, energy and wellbeing.
“Throughout this inquiry we repeatedly heard evidence that
showcased the need for guidance and clarity in the form of an
overarching framework to assist farmers, landowners and land
managers to make the most effective use of their land.
“The Government cannot afford to deprioritise this issue.
We urge the Government to set up a Land Use Commission
with responsibility for creating a land use framework
which will help identify and address current and emerging
challenges and opportunities for land use in England.
The framework is essential to support effective land use
strategies and tackle the many challenges currently faced.
“In addition to this national framework, regional
priorities should be encouraged through the proposed Local Nature
Recovery Strategies (LNRS). The Government must
ensure LNRS are given appropriate funding and prominence in the
planning system to enable them operate successfully and gain
traction amongst farmers and other land managers.”
