Government needs to overhaul the land use planning system to cope with future housing needs and the green agenda, its chief scientist has warned.

Today, the government’s chief scientist Professor John Beddington (pictured) has warned that the current land use system – which dates back to World War II – not fit for purpose. He said post-war aims such as reducing urban sprawl have been met and that planners would now need to focus on problems like providing more residential and commercial development.

Beddington made his statement in a report Land Use Futures, which was sponsored by government departments Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Communities and Local Government (CLG).

He said more development would be needed in the next 50 years to cope with an ageing population, and that development needed to be planned to reduce pressure on transport infrastructure. He said problems would be most acute in the southeast.

“Business as usual is not an option over the long-term. Without being smart about how land is used, we risk missing targets, such as halting biodiversity loss. The effects of climate change and new pressures on land could escalate, seriously eroding the quality of life,” said Beddington.

He said government needed to make critical choices on the priorities for land use in different parts of the UK, how to accommodate more development while protecting landscapes, and how to promote use of the land that is sustainable.

To read the executive summary click here: Land Use Futures Exec Summary

To read the full report click here: Land Use Futures Final Report

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