Guidance

Agricultural land: assess proposals for development

What local planning authorities and developers should consider for development proposals and how to use agricultural land classification (ALC).

Applies to England

Documents

Details

This guide explains how local planning authorities can assess proposals to protect the best and most versatile (BMV) agricultural land from inappropriate and unsustainable development.

Updates to this page

Published 16 January 2018
Last updated 5 February 2021 + show all updates
  1. Added guidance on Defra's 25 year plan to improve the environment 'A Green Future' and how it plans to protect agricultural land and soils.

  2. First published.

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