A “national conversation” on a new approach to UK land use aimed at building more homes and power plants, as well as boosting food security, has been launched by the government.
Environment secretary Steve Reed kicked off the enquiry in a speech at the Royal Geographical Society today, with the move backed by energy and housing departments.
The government says the measure is part of its plan to “support economic growth through building 1.5 million homes and delivering critical infrastructure, securing clean power, protecting farmland and restoring the natural world”.
The 12-week consultation will seek views from farmers, landowners, businesses and nature groups. The results will feed into the government’s Land Use Framework, to be published later this year, on how land will be used across the country.
“The Land Use Framework will provide the principles, advanced data and tools to support decision-making by local government, landowners, businesses, farmers, and nature groups to make the most of our land,” the government said.
“This will help deliver the different objectives we have for England’s finite land, including growing food, building 1.5 million homes this parliament, and restoring nature.”
It added that local planners will benefit from data in the Land Use Framework, which they can combine with updated approaches to “energy and housing spatial plans and a new food strategy”.
Reed 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.”
Deputy Prime Minister and housing secretary, Angela Rayner (pictured) added: “Our plan for change is going even further to dismantle the barriers holding back growth, so we can raise living standards, and get more families onto the property ladder.”
