Government Framework gives direction on use of England’s land

The government has announced England’s first Land Use Framework, aiming to better coordinate land for housing, nature recovery, food production and net zero.

The Land Use Framework is an important cog in the Government’s planning reforms, but will need to integrate into the planning system to balance pressures on land and support national priorities, says the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

The need for a Land Use Framework has long been a RTPI position, with calls dating back to the RTPI’s report Rural Planning in the 2020s.

Robbie Calvert, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the RTPI, said: “Land across England is increasingly under pressure to make space for more housing, economic growth, renewable energy and nature recovery. In publishing its Land Use Framework, the Government is defining how England’s land can be managed in the long-term public interest.

“To realise its full potential, the Framework needs to place communities at its heart and be closely aligned with the planning system. It should act as a live, evidence-based tool, underpinned by up-to-date data, and form part of the evidence base for spatial development strategies to ensure national priorities are effectively translated into local outcomes.

“This is a critical moment for planning reform, and England’s first-ever Land Use Framework has the potential to become an invaluable tool for the profession. The RTPI has worked closely with government and stakeholders on its development and are pleased to see a clear role for planning and a clear recognition of the need to align sectoral plans both nationally and regionally.

“We will continue to support the evolution of this framework as part of a more coordinated National Spatial Framework for England, which will ultimately be the most effective way to integrate these plans.”