18 March 2026
Today the Government announces the long-expected Land Use Framework, setting out how land across England should be used to balance the demands of food production, nature recovery, development, and climate resilience. It comes at a critical moment, as pressure on land intensifies. The challenge now will be turning ambition into delivery.
Richard Benwell, Chief Executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said:
“Today's framework is the vision for land use in England that has been missing for a long time and a significant step toward nature-positive planning. Instead of leaving national land use to luck, Minsters recognise the need for a plan to manage land in a way that meets nature, climate, and economic targets.
“Now the challenge is making the vision a reality. Government must dedicate more money for farmers and landowners to manage land for nature; ensure new regional plans allocate space for it; and empower local governments and regulators to refuse land use choices that would cause environmental harm.
“As Ministers recognize, there's a huge gap in policies to meet the vital commitment of protecting at least 30% of the land for nature by 2030. The Framework should be backed quickly with a bold "30 by 30" plan" to bring nature back to our great landscapes, agricultural land and to the heart of our towns and cities.”
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