Land use framework will need to turn aspirations into reality

Today the Government launched a consultation on a new strategic approach to managing land use in England to balance the needs of farming, food security, environment, biodiverstity and housing and development. It will seek views from farmers, landowners, businesses and nature groups across the the country. 

Responding to Environment Secretary Steve Reed's announcement today of the launch of the consultation on a Land Use Framework for England:

Soil Association Policy Director Brendan Costelloe said: “We welcome today’s launch of the consultation on a strategic approach to managing land use in England, which is long overdue and marks significant progress. Just as we take a strategic approach to delivering the homes, offices and shops we need as a society, we need a strategic approach to delivering the types of nature and climate friendly farming and the habitats that we need to avert the nature and climate crises and ensure food resilience.  We have been calling for a land use framework for years to give the clarity and confidence that nature-friendly farmers, land-users and progressive businesses so desperately need to invest in the future of our countryside.

"We're pleased with the intent to protect good quality agricultural land, but it's the way that land is farmed that will determine whether the Government can avoid unnecessary trade-offs between food, nature and climate. It was good to hear the Secretary of State talk about restoring our soils, reducing pesticide and fertiliser use and creating landscapes that deliver multifunctional synergies. The land-use framework will need to turn this aspiration into reality.

"The biggest challenge will be getting the balance right between flexibility for farmers and certainty for the environment and food resilience. Clearly, the framework shouldn't be telling farmers what to grow and where to grow it, all the time. But nor can we continue to allow blatantly harmful practices to push the environment to the brink in particular areas. We shouldn't allow harmful intensive poultry or maize production in sensitive catchments, any more than we would allow harmful housing. 

"We look forward to working with Government to help them find the right balance and to deliver the workable, impactful, land-use framework that farmers, the environment and society so desperately needs".