Alliance responds to land use consultation

The Countryside Alliance has responded to the government’s consultation on land use, which closed on Friday 25 April. We called for a pragmatic and balanced approach to land use reform, emphasising the need to protect food production, rural livelihoods, and cultural landscapes.  

This consultation has sought public input on potential changes in land use across England, which the government sees as necessary to deliver environmental and biodiversity targets in the context of achieving net zero. It focuses on how land might be managed to balance priorities such as nature restoration, food security, climate resilience, while also delivering housing and national infrastructure. The consultation invited views on the extent and types of land use changes that may be required, along with suggestions for how the government could facilitate and incentivise these changes. It is aiming to inform a broader national conversation about how land can best support future needs and deliver policy goals. 

In our response, the Countryside Alliance urges a pragmatic and balanced approach to land use change. While acknowledging the ambition of the proposed changes, we stress the need for realism and caution, particularly around impacts on food production and rural livelihoods. 

The response highlights concern over the potential loss of major food production capacity on up to 14% of agricultural land, calling for a reversal of current trends that have seen prime farmland repurposed for renewable energy and afforestation. We warn against compromising food security and advocate policies that support long-term land management, such as government funding streams that can be relied upon over the long term and potential tax incentives to encourage private investment in environmental outcomes, including revisiting the Family Farm Tax. 

We emphasise the importance of the cultural and aesthetic value of rural landscapes, especially in upland areas, which support tourism and heritage. We also call for greater recognition of existing private conservation efforts, such as grouse moor management and peatland restoration as well as habitat creation tied to game shooting. 

The Alliance notes our support for introducing a Rural Community Impact Assessment to ensure rural voices are heard in policymaking. We are calling for better coordination across government strategies, simplified regulations and tools to empower land managers with accessible climate and land use data. 

Our response underscores that successful land use reform depends on collaboration with those who actually manage land and know the land best: rural communities, farmers and landowners. We urge the government to build trust and work in partnership with practitioners on the ground.