There has been incorrect reporting in the Daily Express (6 February) which claims the proposals within the Land Use Framework, published last week, would force the equivalent of 12,000 UK farms to close. This is absolute nonsense.
Our consultation sets out the case for land in England delivering multiple benefits, whether that be farming, nature recovery, housing or energy supply – all while protecting food security.
There is nothing in our analysis which suggests entire farms will be forced to change their land use. In many cases, land use change will make farms more profitable by diversifying their income streams and more resilient to increasingly extreme weather such as flooding and drought.
But the Government will not dictate to anyone how to use their land; the consultation has started a national conversation on land use and will seek the views of businesses, farmers and landowners to determine how England’s land can be used for the benefit of people and nature. It will be for individual business and landowners to make informed choices about their land using the most sophisticated land use data ever published.
Working with famers, landowners and businesses we will create a new approach where our land is used in a more strategic way for the benefit of people and nature.
A Government spokesperson said:
“This is a complete misrepresentation. The Land Use Framework will not tell anyone what to do with their land.
“Instead, it will be the most sophisticated data ever published on land use options so farmers and landowners can make better decisions for themselves on how to get the most out of their land and boost their profits.”
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