e-Digest Statistics about: Land Use and Land Cover
Land use change in England
Changes in land use, including land used for urban purposes, are recorded for DCLG by OS as part of its map revision work throughout England [1]. Research has shown that the resulting land use change statistics are best suited to providing information about urban development, in particular the previous use of land developed for residential purposes. The statistics are also useful for estimating the transfer of agricultural land to developed uses and the recycling of land already in urban uses. Table 2 shows the amount of land changing to developed uses in England, by its previous use between 1991 and 2003 [1]. The data refer only to changes recorded by OS between 1985 and 2004, for which the year of change is judged to have been the year shown at the head of each column in the table. Although the apparent rise in re-use of previously developed land since 1988 should be treated with caution, it does reflect the focus by central and local government towards recycling previously developed, and derelict land, for urban development. Changes in land to developed uses by county using 1997-2002 averages, are shown in Table 3.
Further Information:
- Data Tables:
- 2 Previous use of land changing to developed uses: 1991-2003, England XLS
- 3 Previous use of land changing to developed uses: 1997-2002 average by county in England XLS
- Sustainable Development Indicators:
- Contextual indicators: Protecting our natural resources and enhancing the environment
Land use - Internet Links:
- e-digest: Land use
- e-digest: Agricultural land use
- e-digest: New homes built on previously developed land
- Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (DCLG) Planning statistics
- DCLG: Land use change statistics
- Ordnance survey
- References, further reading and links to other resources:
- [1] Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (2001). Land Use Change in England No. 16. DTLR Statistical Bulletin. DTLR, London.
Your questions and comments about information presented on this page are welcome. Contact information and Email . Copyright of data and/or information presented or attached in this document may not reside solely with this Department. Please see guidance on Copyright.
Page last modified: 23 December 2005
Page published: 23 December 2005