Propertymark has backed the Government’s drive for a more strategic approach to land use but warns that its success hinges on deeper cross-sector engagement and a clearer grasp of the spatial demands of housing delivery.
In response to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)’s consultation on long-term land use change, the professional body welcomed the proposed Land Use Framework, recognising its potential to align climate, biodiversity, and food security goals with the country’s pressing development needs.
The framework, intended as a central toolkit to guide land-based decision-making, sits alongside other DEFRA strategies including the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan and the Government’s ambition to build 1.5 million new homes.
It is expected to inform decisions on growth, clean energy, and the UK’s statutory environmental targets.
COMPLEX PROCESS
Propertymark, however, cautions that DEFRA must not underestimate the scale and complexity of land reallocation required to meet housing demand. The body argues that the current assumptions around the land footprint for development – including housing, infrastructure, and community facilities – fall significantly short of reality.
A second area of concern lies in siloed policymaking across departments. Propertymark is calling for a more integrated approach to land use policy, particularly around sensitive designations such as green belt land.
DEDICATED WORKING GROUP
It suggests that a dedicated working group be established to coordinate land use strategy across departments and engage external experts – from environmental charities to utilities and industry bodies.
The third recommendation focuses on digital data infrastructure. Propertymark stresses the importance of a centralised, digital repository for land use data that is comprehensive, updatable, and publicly accessible.
Such a resource would not only support policy coherence but also enable better-informed decisions at the local and national level.
The organisation again flagged the potential of using Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs) to link datasets from spatial planning and the Land Registry, giving stakeholders a fuller picture of property and land characteristics, especially in rural contexts.
BALANCED APPROACH
Rose Forman, Policy and Campaigns Officer at Propertymark, says: “There needs to be a more balanced approach to changes in land use and policymakers must recognise that there is a need for developers, environmental organisations, and land agents to participate in this process.
“Due to the UK Government’s ambitious housing targets, Propertymark is concerned that proposed hectares are grossly underestimated.
“Only through a cross-departmental approach and better access to historical land data will we be able to use land more effectively.”
