A crucial aspect of the framework is that it has been adopted across Government, giving an holistic vision of how England’s land should be used for the first time – this cross-governmental buy-in is essential if the right balance really is to be struck at a time when demands on land are becoming ever stronger. We welcome confirmation that principles of the framework will feed into the in-development revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), demonstrating proper joined-up thinking, although it is essential that protected landscapes protections in the NPPF are not watered down. 

There is recognition in the framework of the importance of the role National Landscapes and National Parks will play in balancing the many demands put on our land:
"National Landscapes and National Parks also have vital roles to play in delivering our nature recovery, climate and health ambitions in a way that protects priority areas for food production. Their statutory management plans are crucial to coordinating cross-sector action needed to deliver these local and national priorities. They unite partners and communities around a shared vision for how these iconic places should function in the long-term. By aligning efforts at the landscape-scale, management plans maximise benefits including food, climate, nature and the socio-economic wellbeing of communities."

Together, National Landscapes and National Parks cover some 25% of the land area of England and Defra has stated that they ‘will provide the backbone to 30by30 [the international target adopted by 196 countries including the UK to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030] in England’. 

National Landscapes and National Parks are governed by area-wide Management Plans developed with the input of other local organisations and the public, and with wide-scale buy-in from local landowners, farmers and other stakeholders. They are already a key mechanism delivering the framework’s principle 2: right use, right place:
"Right use, right place: land should be used in ways that align with local context and account for natural, social and economic factors (such as proximity to major conurbations, access to nature and heritage, or soil quality). Decisions should draw on local knowledge, values, data and priorities to ensure coherent and fair outcomes."

The proposal that a land use unit be formed within Defra demonstrates commitment, but it is essential that the unit be engaged with decisions at the highest level, and that the framework remains central to planning decisions in the future if its ambition is to be realised. We look forward to working with Government to ensure that what the nation needs from its National Landscapes can be delivered in the coming years.