England should give over 7% of land to nature and renewables to meet environmental targets, data shows | Conservation

Around 7% of the UK’s land area – an area roughly two and a half times the size of Cornwall – will need to be turned over to nature, forests and renewable energy, according to new data.

But there will still be enough land to grow the food needed and accommodate the growing population, according to the government’s first “land use framework” published on Wednesday.

Ministers hope to take some of the heat out of debates over housing development and nature conservation by mapping in detail for the first time how England’s land is used and how it can be adapted to changing needs. They warned that current land use was “highly inefficient”.

According to the new rules, housing projects within walking distance of existing train stations will be given a “default yes” answer. House builders will also be told to include ponds, wetlands and improved urban drainage schemes in their projects to combat the increased risk of flooding.

Farmers will also be told whether their land would be better off turning over to forestry, wetland or peatland restoration or other uses rather than farming. They will be encouraged, but not forced, to do so by new incentives where appropriate. The UK’s old farmland classifications will be updated.

Only 1% of England’s land is likely to be required for solar, wind farms and other renewable energy, according to the report, but that estimate may currently need an update as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has admitted it does not include any increased needs for water and energy from the construction of new AI data centres.

Other measures included in the 56-page report, which began work on under the previous Conservative government and took several years to complete, include:

• Giving high priority to restoring peatland across England, of which all but 13 per cent are degraded, but this will not include a complete ban on projects such as wind or solar farms.

• Promoting “multiple uses” of land; for example, encouraging wildlife conservation and nature restoration on wind and solar farms, as well as animal grazing and arable land.

• Encouraging local authorities to establish nature reserves in urban as well as rural areas.

• Grouse moors will be scrutinized more closely and subject to tighter regulations, going beyond EU rules.

• A new “right to roam” is not included in the framework, but there will be consultation on “making landowners’ responsibility more proportionate”, which could enable areas to be opened to public access.

• The national soil map will be published.

• A new “land use unit” will be established.

• The government plans to modify the UK’s climate under global warming of 2°C above pre-industrial levels and much higher warming of 4°C.

Farmers and campaigners have generally welcomed the framework. “This is a step in the right direction,” said Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers Union. “[But] “Achieving all targets on existing land is an ambitious goal and will require clear guidance, the right policy framework and incentives to prevent unintended consequences.”

Martin Lines, of the Green Farming Network, said: “Land managers across England will need a clear pipeline of funding from both the public and private sectors to deliver what we need in this report.”

“The UK has suffered three of the worst harvests in history in recent years due to the climate crisis,” said Tom Lancaster, head of land, food and agriculture at the ECIU think tank. “Adopting a more coherent approach to land use is a prerequisite for improving our resilience to climate shocks.”