Government publishes long-awaited Land Use Framework

Yesterday the Westminster Government published the long-awaited Land Use Framework. The framework’s purpose is to set an overarching vision for how land is used in England, achieved through consistent, joined-up decision- and policymaking. This should be a watershed in terms of creating coherent land use policy, recognising the need to reconcile different, and at times competing, demands on how land is used, incorporating objectives across housing, energy infrastructure, food production, nature recovery, climate resilience, water use, and communities.

This multifunctional approach to land use is one of the four principles upon which the framework is built, along with the right use in the right place, making ‘future-ready’ decisions (setting a long-term vision), and ‘adaptive by design’ policies that can evolve according to new evidence and changing contexts. The framework sets both a short- (by 2030) and longer-term (by 2050) visions for land-use.

Optimistic

We are optimistic about these proposals. We welcome the strategic vision and emphasis on multifunctionality. Such an approach is crucial if environmental issues are to be meaningfully addressed by the wider policy landscape, in order to deliver the societal change necessary to meet the scale of the nature and climate challenges facing the country.

The success of this approach is, of course, dependent on the level of significance placed on environmental concerns within multifunctional land use. We are therefore pleased that the framework consistently addresses not only the impacts of land use on the wider environment, but the role nature-based solutions can play in meeting outcomes across the various land use categories.

We are highly supportive of the renewed emphasis on evidence-based decision-making, a key ask in our response to the initial proposals. We welcome the commitment to improve the quality and quantity of data used in future reviews of the framework. Other highlights from the framework include the establishment of a Land Use Unit in Defra to map spatial priorities, and improved transparency around land ownership data.

Perhaps the most significant takeaway from the framework is the statement that there is sufficient land in England to deliver the manifold outcomes across the different sectors listed above, if the correct policy decisions are made.

Causes for concern

Whilst it is clear the Government have taken on board our comments and those from the wider environmental sector to improve upon their initial proposals, the current framework is far from perfect. One of our major concerns in our initial consultation response was whether the Government has fully grasped the pace and scale of change needed to meet existing obligations – on 30×30, for example, the framework seems to concede that this target will be missed.

Crucially, there seems to be a disconnect between the scale of the issues the framework intends to address and how far-reaching its implementation will be. Most notably, the framework will stop short of directing national planning policy, a major concern given the significant role planning plays in land use decisions. The framework clearly states that it is separate from the planning process; it is merely a guide to inform planning policy at the national level:

“the [Land-use Framework] principles are separate from the planning process. They are not intended… to be a material consideration for the preparation of development plans or for making decisions on planning applications or nationally significant infrastructure projects.”

The framework’s principles were supposedly “taken into account” in the development of the updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). However, given the contrast between the Land Use Framework’s more holistic approach and the NPPF’s environmental regression (see our response here), it appears that the Land Use Framework lacks the power and scope to translate its vision into policy at the highest level and that, for all the positive words in the Framework, delivering a narrow conception of short-term economic growth trumps sustainable development for this government.

A further example comes from the recent announcement of the Government’s intentions regarding the implementation of the Fingleton Review. Whilst the Government is not implementing the Review in full – avoiding some of the most extreme deregulatory options – the ‘cash to trash’ application of Environmental Delivery Plans for nuclear infrastructure (and the intention to explore this approach for other major infrastructure projects) is at odds with the vision of multifunctional land use in the Framework. Instead, we are left with a system in which developers can pay to bypass any assessment or mitigation work. Holistic indeed.

Looking ahead

The Land Use Framework is much-needed and long-awaited. By providing a clear vision for multifunction land use, it progresses the conversation on a crucial policy area in a positive direction. The ultimate barometer of success will be in its delivery. We must now ensure the Framework is a touchstone for future policy development and decision-making.