The UK Government is developing a Land Use Framework for England to guide how land is managed and used – balancing demands like farming, housing, climate, biodiversity, and nature recovery. But as the push for Net Zero and land use change gathers pace, it’s vital that this transition is fair, inclusive, and doesn’t leave anyone behind.

This workshop, hosted by AFN Network+, contributed to a collective response to the Government’s open consultation.

Participants were given the following five points to discuss in online breakout rooms:

1. What evidence exists and what evidence is needed to support a fair and effective land strategy
2. How land use principles should be shaped and delivered in practice (particularly the co-design principle and who participates in this; also, are there missing principles)
3. What support is needed to make these changes possible – and fair (What policy levers have most evidence behind them- what are the implications for fair transition)
4. The scale and speed of land use change
5. What gaps in land management capacity or skills do you anticipate? What are the implications for a fair transition?

The following is a summary of participant input, given in seven online breakout rooms. The draft document was shared with participants, for further opportunity to add to the document, with subsequent comments incorporated.