Land Use Consultation - Sustain alliance response

Sustain and 21 supporting organisations welcome the government’s efforts to develop a Land Use Framework but highlight major shortcomings that must be addressed for it to drive real, equitable change. While the consultation recognises the urgent need for land use transformation for nature and climate, it fails to model essential demand-side changes, such as dietary shifts towards healthier, more planet friendly diets.

The Sustain alliance response criticises the decision to exclude 80% of England’s land from substantial change, arguing that every land manager must contribute to sustainable, multi-functional land use. We call for greater ambition, including more prescriptive measures where necessary, to meet climate, nature, and food security targets.

The response supports the proposed land use principles but stresses the need to embed nutritional security and cross-departmental consistency – with Defra, DLUHC, DESNZ, and DHSC all playing aligned roles. Local authorities, landowners, and community groups are identified as crucial actors in delivering change on the ground.

Key policy recommendations include: properly funded Environmental Land Management schemes; strong support for agroecology, horticulture, and diversified farming; and urgent regulation to curb damaging intensive livestock production. Spatial targeting must be fair and just, providing support for rural communities likely to be most impacted by land use shifts.

Finally, the Sustain alliance emphasises that without action on sustainable diets, stronger protection for agroecological domestic food production, and a regulatory baseline for imports, the UK risks outsourcing environmental damage abroad. To succeed, the Framework must be paired with updated spatial data, strengthened governance, and clear accountability mechanisms.

Supporting organisations:
Beyond GM, Community Supported Agriculture Network, Compassion in World Farming, Eating Better Alliance, Family Farmers Association, Organic Farmers & Growers, English Organic Forum, Landworkers' Alliance, Nature Friendly Farming Network, Pasture for Life, People Need Nature, Pesticide Action Network UK, Real Farming Trust, Soil Association, The Orchard Project, Organic Growers Alliance, Plantlife, Sustainable Food Trust, Sustainable Soils Alliance, Whole Health Agriculture, and WWF UK.