Policy paper

Land Use Framework

How we can use our land more effectively to increase the resilience of our homes, communities, infrastructure, and food systems, while speeding up development and restoring nature.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 18 March 2026

Applies to England

Documents

Land Use Framework for England (web-optimised PDF)

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6331-1, E03568609, CP 1545

PDF, 3.68 MB, 58 pages

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Land Use Framework for England (print-ready PDF)

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6331-1, E03568609, CP 1545

PDF, 4.69 MB, 60 pages

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

The Land Use Framework for England sets out how we can use our land more effectively.

The government consulted on land use from January to April 2025. This framework incorporates the government’s response to that consultation. You can read a summary of responses to the consultation.

The Framework has 3 sections: 

• a vision for England’s future landscapes, informed by sophisticated land use change analysis 

• a set of principles to inform how decisions are made about land 

• actions we will take to support land use change, in partnership with others  

This is the first Land Use Framework for England. Further iterations will be published. We will update the framework every 5 years to reflect progress and incorporate evolving data and evidence.

Published 18 March 2026