Land Use Framework: A new vision for England’s land

Why a land Use Framework was needed

England’s new Land Use Framework marks a major step forward in how the country uses its finite land – an idea first championed by Henry Dimbleby in the National Food Strategy, where he called for a more coherent, strategic approach to balancing resilient food production, nature recovery, housing and infrastructure, and climate mitigation. His recommendations highlighted a long-standing gap: without a unifying framework, land related decisions were too often fragmented, short-term, and unable to reconcile competing pressures.

A strategic response to competing pressures

The Framework responds directly to that challenge. It sets out a clear, evidence‑based vision for how England can use land more efficiently and for multiple benefits, ensuring long‑term resilience in the face of climate change, food security concerns, and rising demands for space. By bringing together government, local authorities, landowners, and industry around a shared set of principles and tools, it aims to create a more coordinated, transparent, and future‑focused approach to land use.

IGD strongly welcomes this work. It represents a powerful and long‑overdue move towards the strategic land stewardship that the food system, the environment, and communities urgently need. For many in the sector, this Framework fills a gap that has been evident for years—providing clarity, direction, and a platform for better decisions across the whole landscape.

 

The long-term vision for land use to support food security

There are many different pressures driving the need for land use change in England, when combined create a complex and competing set of demands on a finite resource. Within this, national food production stands out as a core priority and the Framework recognises that protecting long-term food security means protecting and improving the productivity of farmland, improving soil and water health, and ensuring farming can coexist with other land pressures.

A vision for 2030

By 2030, the Land Use Framework imagines an England where land is used far more strategically, with decisions guided by clear national priorities and better data. Food production remains a central pillar of this vision: farmland is protected and managed in ways that maintain productivity while also supporting nature recovery and climate resilience. Farmers are equipped with the tools, incentives, and information they need to produce food sustainably, and land managers are supported to deliver multiple benefits from the same piece of land—whether that’s growing crops, restoring habitats, improving soil health, or storing carbon. The result is a more efficient, joined‑up system where food security is strengthened because land is used wisely, not simply intensively.

A vision for 2050

By 2050, the vision becomes more ambitious. England’s landscapes are expected to be genuinely multifunctional, resilient, and capable of withstanding the pressures of climate change. Food production continues to thrive, but in a way that works hand‑in‑hand with nature rather than at its expense. Productive farmland is underpinned by healthier soils, restored ecosystems, and better water management, making the food system more robust to shocks. Nature recovery is no longer a separate agenda but embedded across the countryside, with thriving habitats integrated into working farms and rural economies. The landscape is more adaptable, with land use decisions informed by long‑term planning, high‑quality data, and shared responsibility across government, industry, and communities.

Across both time horizons, the vision recognises that food security depends on more than yield alone. It requires landscapes that can cope with extreme weather, supply chains that are resilient, and ecosystems that continue to provide essential services, from pollination to flood mitigation. The Framework therefore aims to create a future where land is managed for productivity and resilience together, ensuring that England can feed itself sustainably while restoring the natural systems on which food production ultimately depends.

Land use principles

Key to achieving more efficient land use, these four land use principles will provide a consistent basis for shaping government policy, inform national and local strategies, and support the choices made by individual landowners and managers, but will remain separate from the national planning system.

1.       Multifunctionality: land use should be planned and managed to deliver greater benefits across a range of outcomes. E.g. Solar generation designed to enable the continued grazing of animals

2.       Right use, right place: Land should be used in ways that align with the local context that account for natural, social and economic factors. E.g. Prioritising land use that is spatially sensitive, like high quality farmland

3.       Future-ready decisions: Land use decisions should take a long-term view, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations. E.g. Tree planting decisions should consider species type and locations according to climate change pressures and water availability.

4.       Adaptive by design: Land use policy and delivery should be flexible to evolve and respond to emerging needs and challenges. E.g. Regularly updated climate adaptation plans.

Implementation

Implementing the Land Use Framework begins with turning its vision into practical action. The four steps outlined represent the first phase of this work, shaped by the challenges raised through consultation and with government continuing to draw on the Land Use Framework Summary of Responses as the framework is rolled out.

1.       Consistent spatial plans: joining up decisions on land use

This step focuses on creating a more coherent approach to spatial planning across national, regional, and local levels. To achieve this, government will strengthen coordination between departments and agencies, supported by the dedicated Land Use Unit within Defra, which has been established to lead this work. By improving coordination between different strategies and policies that affect land, government aims to reduce duplication, resolve conflicting priorities, and ensure decisions are made with a shared understanding of land pressures and opportunities.

2.       Supporting multifunctional and efficient land use

The framework encourages land to deliver multiple benefits at once, such as food production, nature recovery, carbon storage, and community access, rather than being allocated to single, competing uses. This step involves developing tools including the development of the national spatial map, guidance, and incentives that help land managers and policymakers identify where multifunctional outcomes are most achievable and how to support them.

3.       Making land digital

A major part of implementation is improving the availability, quality, and accessibility of land‑related data. By bringing datasets together and making them easier to use, government aims to create a clearer picture of how land is currently used and what it could deliver. Better digital tools will support more informed decisions, reduce uncertainty, and enable innovation across sectors.

4.       Sharing responsibility for the stewardship of land

This step recognises that effective land stewardship relies on collaboration between government, landowners, farmers, businesses, communities, and civil society. The framework sets out plans to strengthen partnerships, build shared accountability, and support those who manage land directly. It emphasises that long‑term, sustainable land use requires collective action and a common sense of purpose.

Key takeaways for food and drink businesses

For food and drink businesses, the Land Use Framework marks an important shift in the policy landscape, one that places food security and long‑term resilience at the centre of national land‑use decisions. The Framework makes clear that protecting productive farmland and supporting sustainable food production are now core priorities, giving businesses greater confidence that domestic supply will remain a strategic focus. At the same time, it highlights that the future stability of supply chains depends on healthier, more resilient landscapes. Issues such as soil degradation, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and climate‑driven shocks are no longer treated as environmental side notes but as fundamental risks to food production itself.

As government moves to improve land‑use data and make it more accessible, businesses will gain clearer insight into land capability, environmental constraints, and emerging risks, helping them plan, strengthen sourcing strategies, and build resilience into their operations. The Framework also signals a growing expectation that food and drink companies will play an active role in supporting sustainable land management. Collaboration with farmers, local authorities, and environmental partners will become increasingly important, not only to meet regulatory expectations but to secure the long‑term viability of supply chains.

Overall, the Framework creates a more coordinated and predictable environment for investment in sustainable farming, nature recovery, and low‑carbon supply chains. For the food and drink sector, it offers both reassurance and opportunity: reassurance that food production is recognised as a national priority, and opportunity to help shape a more resilient, nature‑positive system that can withstand the pressures ahead.