Why do we need the Land Use Framework?
Land is a limited resource. The Royal Society estimates that the UK would need land twice the size of Wales to meet all the government targets set in recent years. Their report states that the government risks “overpromising” finite land with its multiple ambitions on farming, nature and renewable energy.
With plans for more energy projects, housing, food production, and space for nature, a Land Use Framework is crucial to guide decisions before the ‘build, build, build’ phase kicks off, not after.
To address these challenges, the Labour government is committed to creating a Land Use Framework for England—a policy carried forward from the previous government.
How could it change things for the better?
Since much has been promised from England’s limited land, a joined-up strategic approach will be needed to ensure environmental targets and other important objectives are met.
A Land Use Framework could guide smarter decisions about how land is managed. Strategic planning could optimize land use to minimize harm to nature while supporting agriculture, development, water management, recreation, climate action, and biodiversity.
The Food, Farming and Countryside Commission first developed the idea of a Land Use Framework in their report Our Future in the Land. It was their belief that this framework could bring together often opposing groups—such as farmers, environmentalists, local residents, and developers—by creating a shared vision for land use
Building trust
Fiona Reynolds, Deputy Chair of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, supports the creation of a Land Use Framework. She believes it would help ensure that large-scale projects are placed in the right locations, while also building trust and support from the public regarding how land is managed. The framework would allow for more transparent, balanced decision-making that considers various needs and priorities for the land.
In Cambridgeshire, the Bennett Institute for Public Policy carried out a listening exercise and found that land use frameworks can help engage people in a much more collaborative approach.
What does a good Land Use Framework look like?
According to the Wildlife and Countryside Link a Land Use Framework should be:
- Strategic, identifying long-term goals and necessary land use changes
- Spatial, using national maps to inform decisions about natural and infrastructure assets
- Developed by a cross-government body to track progress and meet environmental targets
- Able to adapt to future scenarios like climate change impacts
- Integrate multiple land uses like farming, recreation and climate to guide sustainable decision-making
- Protect nature, maximize benefits, and manage trade-offs effectively
A recent briefing by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) recommends how the government’s Land Use Framework could be delivered. For more details, read the document here.
How does a Land Use Framework impact large-scale solar decisions
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and related guidelines determine the use of land for projects like large-scale solar farms in the UK. According to Solar Energy UK, consultation on the NPPF is intended to ‘turbo-charge’ the delivery of renewable generation. The focus is on simplifying and speeding up the planning process for renewable energy generation.
However, it is crucial to ensure that these developments do not cause irreversible environmental harm, particularly when they involve agricultural land.
A recent House of Commons briefing called Planning for Solar Farms covers planning policy for solar farms in England and comments on the use of agricultural land for solar farms, stating there are no strict rules for siting solar farms.
While the current policy suggests that solar farms should be placed on previously developed or non-agricultural land, it doesn’t rule out agricultural land entirely
Solar farms are concentrated in the South East and South West of England, and the government aims for a fivefold increase in solar power by 2035. This will require an effective planning system to support the expansion of rooftop and ground-mounted solar installations.
A Land Use Framework will be key to ensuring that large-scale solar projects are planned strategically and not left to private developers alone. This approach invites broader involvement, balancing sustainability with long-term goals.
What does Kingsway Community Action group think about a Land Use Framework?
The Kingsway Community Action Group (KSCA) views a Land Use Framework as vital for ensuring that large-scale solar projects, such as the one proposed by Kingsway, are balanced across environmental, social, and economic factors. This is particularly important as multiple applications for grid connections to the Burwell South substation are expected.
For this reason, KSCA is collaborating with parish and district councillors, as well as engaging with local MPs, to push for the Land Use Framework to be presented to Parliament as soon as possible in 2025. This will ensure a strategic and coordinated approach to managing large-scale solar projects and other developments in the area.
Please ask about a Land Use Framework when responding to Kingsway about the solar farm. Your opinion matters!
For further guidance go to our Feedback guidance here
Remember, The deadline for submitting your response to Kingsway is 12th December.
We must face the challenges of nature responsibly.