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A new briefing from the House of Commons Library sheds light on how competing land-use pressures may affect the UK’s ability to produce food, support nature recovery and deliver infrastructure.
What the briefing covers
Published on 14 November 2025, the research document “Impact of land use change on food security” examines recent shifts in how land is used — for agriculture, nature conservation, infrastructure and energy — and how that intersects with the ability to grow food domestically.
Key focus areas include:
The upcoming Land Use Framework (LUF) the government intends to publish, which will map out how land resources across England may be allocated for different uses.
Estimates of how much agricultural land might shift to other uses by 2050 and what that implies for domestic food production.
The pressures arising from housing, infrastructure and renewable energy expansion.
The views of key stakeholders such as the National Farmers Union (NFU), Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), and environmental groups.
Key figures and shifts
The consultation document underpinning the forthcoming Land Use Framework estimates that by 2050:
~1% (50,000 ha) of current agricultural land may see small changes that maintain the same use.
~4% (370,000 ha) may shift to different agricultural uses balancing food, environment and climate benefits.
~5% (430,000 ha) may primarily serve environmental/climate goals with limited food production.
~9% (760,000 ha) could move away from agriculture entirely, dedicated to environmental and climate objectives.
For housing and infrastructure: building 1.5 million new homes would require around 30,000 ha (0.2%) of land; continuing that scale to 2050 amounts to ~150,000 ha (1.1%) of land.
For energy: additional on-shore wind capacity and solar installations demand non-trivial land footprints, though often co-existing with agricultural uses.
What this means for Landlister and our community
For those of us working in land-use, real-estate, agriculture and development, the briefing highlights several implications worth bearing in mind:
Multiplicity of demands on land: Land parcels will increasingly face pressures from production (food/farming), conservation (nature recovery), housing/infrastructure and energy. Developing strategies must account for this competition.
Need for intelligent zoning and planning tools: The forthcoming Land Use Framework promises to release datasets and decision-making frameworks that could shape how land is allocated — planting opportunities for service providers, planners, land-owners and tech innovators.
Productivity gains become critical: The briefing suggests that the UK’s ability to maintain food production despite land use shifts depends on innovations and improved productivity in agriculture. This opens opportunities for precision farming, agri-tech and supply-chain optimisation.
Valuation and market signals will shift: Land valued purely for agriculture may see changing dynamics if part of that land is designated for environmental services or other uses. For buyers, investors and managers, this means staying attuned to policy direction and emerging frameworks.
Stakeholder voices matter: Farmers, nature-groups, local authorities and infrastructure developers all bring valid concerns and priorities. Effective land-use strategy will require alignment between these. The briefing emphasises calls from the NFU and AHDB for clear prioritisation rules.
What to watch next
Publication of the full Land Use Framework: The consultation anticipated a July 2025 publication, but it has been delayed.
How the government integrates food strategy, the LUF, energy planning and housing/infrastructure growth. The briefing notes the government’s own food strategy published in July 2025.
Data release and tools promised by government to enable better spatial decision-making.
Localised impacts: How individual regions and land-owners adapt when land-use priorities shift from purely agricultural to multi-functional.
Market responses: land value trends, investment in agri-tech, and the emergence of services that support multifunctional land use (e.g., carbon-sequestration credits, biodiversity offsetting).
In short: The UK is entering a phase where land is no longer a single-use asset. The High-level shifts outlined in this briefing from the House of Commons Library make it clear: food security, nature recovery, housing, infrastructure and energy all meet on the same terrain. For Landlister’s audience of land-owners, developers and planners, understanding and anticipating these changes may be the difference between being ahead of the curve — or playing catch-up.