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Guidance

Changing uncultivated, semi-natural and rural land: when you need permission

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Agriculture) Regulations protect uncultivated, semi-natural and rural land. Find out when and how to get permission to make changes to land.

From:
Natural England and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published:
16 October 2014
Last updated:
12 May 2026 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Check if you need a screening decision

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Apply for a screening decision

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Apply for a consent decision

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Details

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Agriculture) Regulations protect land in England from damage caused by:

  • introducing activities that will increase the agricultural productivity of the land
  • changing activities that will increase the agricultural productivity of the land
  • restructuring rural land

Check if you need a screening decision to change uncultivated, semi-natural or rural land.

  1. Check if you need a screening decision - understand your land type and the changes you can and cannot make to it.
  2. If you need a screening decision to change the use of your land, apply for a screening decision.
  3. You may also need to apply for a consent decision, following the response to your screening decision application.

You can check screening and consent decisions made under the EIA Regulations in the public register of decisions.

Updates to this page

Last updated:
12 May 2026
Show all updates

  1. In 'Check if you need a screening decision': updated guidance on when you need a screening decision for agri-environment schemes (including Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes).

  2. Updated guidance 'Check if you need a screening decision' for clarity. We have provided further explanation of "chemical means" of cultivation, "semi-natural areas" and "protected landscapes."

  3. Updated guidance in 'Check if you need a screening decision' for clarity: If you need a screening decision, you must apply and get approval to begin the work before you make any changes.

  4. Added clarification on hedgerow management rules for buffer strips.

  5. ‘Check if you need a screening decision’ - edited when you need permission to alter a boundary over a certain length to include installing a boundary within a land parcel. Examples include to exclude stock from a particular area or to protect habitat. 'Apply for a screening decision’ - added further guidance to support applicants to assess the biodiversity of a project site. Added guidance about when to commission a biodiversity survey and the timing and appropriateness of the survey for the species at hand.

  6. Added new section 'When you need a screening decision for biodiversity net gain (BNG)'. If you want to improve natural habitats on uncultivated or semi-natural land which will then be registered or sold for BNG, you may first need to get a screening decision. You must apply for a screening decision separately to BNG registration. BNG registration is not an alternative to a screening decision.

  7. Updated 'Apply for a screening decision' to highlight that applicants must read everything within the guidance before starting an application. Emphasised that applicants must apply for and provide copies of all necessary consultation responses with application and that Natural England will put an application on hold if these are provided. Added new guidance about what to do if a consultation response has been refused.

  8. This guidance has been restructured and simplified to help you understand when and how to get permission to make changes to land.

  9. First published.

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