Unveiling the Secret to Efficiently Providing Homes and Development
The UK government's Land Use Framework, currently in development, is set to become a transformative national spatial plan that will guide land use across the country, aiming to balance societal needs, economic growth, infrastructure development, housing, nature restoration, and climate resilience.
### Current Status
Expected to be a central tool by 2025/26, the Framework will help balance the country’s housing needs with environmental protection and infrastructure goals. It is being aligned closely with ongoing planning reforms and key strategies such as the Environmental Improvement Plan, Farming Roadmap, and Strategic Spatial Energy Plan. Natural England and other government bodies are preparing to implement the Framework as part of improving spatial planning and biodiversity investment.
Parliamentary discussions around the Planning and Infrastructure Bill relate to elements that will complement the Framework, such as requiring new homes to be built to net zero carbon standards, integrating solar power provisions, and reviewing land value capture to ensure public benefit from rising land values.
### Key Details and Objectives
The Land Use Framework aims to support multiple land uses on farmland, including production, conservation, and recreation, thus enabling farmers to diversify income streams while increasing land productivity and value. A crucial aspect is the use of high-quality data, reporting, and monitoring to guide investment in land use change and nature restoration, which will enhance climate resilience and economic sustainability.
The Framework seeks to integrate planning with nature recovery, infrastructure development, and housing supply, ensuring that these are mutually supportive rather than conflicting goals. It is positioned as a “once in a generation” opportunity to rethink land priorities to tackle crises in nature, soil, water, and climate.
### Impact on Housing, Infrastructure, and Economic Growth
By coordinating housing development with nature recovery and infrastructure planning, the Framework aims to support sustainable economic growth without compromising environmental goals. The government is committed to net zero housing, which integrates renewable energy solutions, reflecting the Framework’s environmental ambitions and the modernized planning system.
Infrastructure projects will be considered within the Framework to ensure that their presence or planning is balanced against housing and environmental targets, and local authorities might receive some flexibility where major infrastructure is involved. The Framework is expected to drive investment that aligns economic development with climate and biodiversity objectives, creating resilience and enhancing quality of life.
The Land Use Framework is designed to be a holistic national spatial plan that directly influences the trajectory of housing delivery, infrastructure development, and economic growth, while embedding climate action and nature restoration at its core. It is still in a formative stage but is receiving strong policy and stakeholder focus to ensure success and alignment with other major government reforms and environmental plans.
Several development legislations, including a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill, are being considered by parliament. The government is currently consulting on a Land Use Framework, which will include principles for policy with land use implications, policy levers for land use change, land use data and analysis, and tools to support land managers.
Ian Barnett, National Land Director at LRG, is due to host a panel session titled 'How to deliver housing and growth: making development work for all' at this year's UKREiiF event. For effective growth, spatial planning should function at a higher tier of government to avoid local politics hindering development. The engagement process in a national spatial plan must be efficient and consistent across the country.
The Land Use Framework document commits to a spatial approach, but lacks a strategic, spatial approach and seems to assume each piece of land has only one use. The document makes only one reference to the National Planning Policy Framework and minimal mention of biodiversity net gain (BNG), despite its importance in linking housing and environmental protection.
Inspired by exemplary planning systems with minimal political interference in countries like Germany and the Netherlands, the UK's Land Use Framework is poised to revolutionize land use planning in the UK, ensuring a sustainable and balanced approach to housing, infrastructure, and economic growth.
- The UK government's Land Use Framework, under development, will not only address housing needs but also promote innovation in land management, enabling farmers to diversify income streams and farmers markets for community engagement and education-and-self-development.
- In an effort to balance societal needs with economic growth, the Framework may consider integrated approaches like co-locating community centers or educational facilities near new housing developments, fostering stronger neighborhood connections and opportunities for casino-and-gambling-free recreational activities.
- As the Framework progresses, it will be crucial to ensure that the development of new housing and infrastructure aligns with the government's commitment to net zero housing and invests in clean energy alternatives, thereby reducing the need for casino-and-gambling-based revenue generation and prioritizing community development.
