Select Committee · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Land use and nature
Status: Open
Opened: 18 Mar 2026
Inquiry scope
The UK Government has set numerous goals related to habitat restoration under the Environmental Improvement Plan, much of which of hoped to be achieved through the Government’s Environmental Land Management Schemes. The Government has also set several ambitious targets through its housebuilding programme and plans for net zero energy generation. All of these priorities have implications for the use of land. Given that agriculture represents around 70% of England’s land use, it is farmers and growers that are most likely to be impacted by these priorities. Changes to land use will offer opportunities but also present risks, particularly given the pressures that the agricultural sector is already under. Access to nature is also important, with some areas and communities lacking access to quality green and blue spaces which are vital for physical and mental health. However, public access can also present challenges to landowners and the environment. This long-term thematic inquiry will consider these trade-offs and how the Government and other public bodies manage them. It will consider how the Government is looking to restore habitats and make progress towards international commitments to protect 30% of land by 2030. The Committee will call for evidence on a regular basis and produce iterative and focused reports throughout the inquiry. Topics for scrutiny may include, but are not limited to: Restoration of different habitats, such as heathland, wetlands and forest Protected sites National parks and landscapes The design and implementation of the Land Use Framework Rights of way Urban green spaces Land use in the agricultural sector If you have information or evidence which may be of interest to the Committee, please contact: efracom@parliament.ukOral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep 2026 |
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Adam Day · The Farmer Network Ltd,
Baroness Julia Aglionby, Executive Director of the Foundation for Common Land,
Lisa Bennett · Westmorland Agricultural Association
|
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Written evidence
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| Reference | Date | Submitter |
|---|---|---|
| LUN0016 | 15 Sep 2026 | Anonymised |
| LUN0106 | 15 Sep 2026 | Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) |
| LUN0107 | 15 Sep 2026 | Anton Coaker and John Shears, Dartmoor Farmers |
| LUN0015 | 9 Sep 2026 | Mr Lawrence Jones, Mr L C L Jones |
| LUN0027 | 9 Sep 2026 | Dartmoor Nature Alliance |
| LUN0014 | 8 Sep 2026 | Centre for Rural Policy Research, University of Exeter |
| LUN0013 | 8 Sep 2026 | Mr Richard Glanville, Glanville Farms |
| LUN0012 | 8 Sep 2026 | Dr Dale Shaffer-Morrison, University of Essex |
| LUN0011 | 8 Sep 2026 | United Utilities Water Limited |
| LUN0010 | 8 Sep 2026 | Dan Richmond-Watson, Wakefield Farms Ltd |
| LUN0009 | 8 Sep 2026 | Peter Mawson, Peter Mawson |
| LUN0008 | 8 Sep 2026 | Community Planning Alliance |
| LUN0007 | 8 Sep 2026 | Malcolm Read |
| LUN0006 | 8 Sep 2026 | Mrs Liz Staley, M C & A E Staley |
| LUN0020 | 8 Sep 2026 | Raby Estates |
| LUN0019 | 8 Sep 2026 | Friends of the Lake District |
| LUN0026 | 8 Sep 2026 | Mr Peter Leeson, Peter Leeson |
| LUN0025 | 8 Sep 2026 | Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estate |
| LUN0024 | 8 Sep 2026 | The Earl Peel, Grinton Estate |
| LUN0023 | 8 Sep 2026 | Mrs Drusilla Butterfield, Land Phoenix Ltd |
| LUN0022 | 8 Sep 2026 | Mr Andrew Gilhespy , Grain of truth Devon (ta fresh flour company |
| LUN0021 | 8 Sep 2026 | Chatsworth Settlement Trust |
| LUN0030 | 8 Sep 2026 | Swaledale and Wensleydale Environmental Farmers Ltd. |
| LUN0029 | 8 Sep 2026 | Tenant Farmers Association |
| LUN0028 | 8 Sep 2026 | Lucy Collis, St Luke's and Littleworth Farms |
| LUN0035 | 8 Sep 2026 | Dartmoor Commoners' Council |
| LUN0034 | 8 Sep 2026 | National Farmers' Union of England and Wales |
| LUN0033 | 8 Sep 2026 | Campaign for National Parks |
| LUN0032 | 8 Sep 2026 | Mr. Simon Gurney |
| LUN0043 | 8 Sep 2026 | Dartmoor Preservation Association CIO |
| LUN0042 | 8 Sep 2026 | National Sheep Association |
| LUN0041 | 8 Sep 2026 | Oliver Brown |
| LUN0040 | 8 Sep 2026 | Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Service |
| LUN0039 | 8 Sep 2026 | Mr James Stephenson, Dawnay Estates |
| LUN0038 | 8 Sep 2026 | British Association for Shooting & Conservation |
| LUN0037 | 8 Sep 2026 | adrian thornton-Berry |
| LUN0036 | 8 Sep 2026 | Countryside Alliance |
| LUN0050 | 8 Sep 2026 | The Heritage Alliance |
| LUN0049 | 8 Sep 2026 | Mr Steven Wilkinson, Farndale estates |
| LUN0048 | 8 Sep 2026 | Mr Metcalfe |
| LUN0047 | 8 Sep 2026 | Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group South West |
| LUN0046 | 8 Sep 2026 | Yorkshire Water |
| LUN0045 | 8 Sep 2026 | Green Alliance |
| LUN0062 | 8 Sep 2026 | Lake District National Park Authority (World Heritage Site lead body) |
| LUN0061 | 8 Sep 2026 | Mr Edward Hillson , FARM |
| LUN0060 | 8 Sep 2026 | Countryside and Community Research Institute |
| LUN0059 | 8 Sep 2026 | National Parks England |
| LUN0058 | 8 Sep 2026 | Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association |
| LUN0057 | 8 Sep 2026 | RBST -Rare Breeds Survival Trust |
| LUN0056 | 8 Sep 2026 | Nature Friendly Farming Network |
Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Adam Day · Managing Director | The Farmer Network Ltd | 1 |
| Baroness Julia Aglionby, Executive Director of the Foundation for Common Land | — | 1 |
| Lisa Bennett · Chair | Westmorland Agricultural Association | 1 |
Correspondence
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