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Land quality varies from place to place. The Agricultural Land Classification
(ALC) provides a method for assessing the quality of farmland to enable
informed choices to be made about its future use within the planning system. It
helps underpin the principles of sustainable development. The National Land and
Grazing Management Team's involvement in ALC includes:
- Policy advice - development of land use and soil policy for the
integration of wider Defra sustainability agenda. Technical inputs into land
evaluation and development of ALC.
- Strategic map - providing technical inputs and guidance to GO's and
planners in connection with strategic plans involving agricultural land.
- Adhoc advice - providing advice and information to planners,
consultants and public on agricultural land issues.
Further Information:
- The following leaflet provides further information on the ALC System, it's
uses and limitations:
Agricultural
Land Classification
 (189 KB)
- The publication Agricultural
Land Classification of England and Wales ( 2.8 MB) - revised guidelines and criteria
for grading the quality of agricultural land was published in 1988 and includes a more detailed description of
each of the grades and subgrades than the ALC leaflet.
- ALC Regional Maps at a scale of 1:250,000 are available from
Defra Publications.
- The same information is also available on the following website:
www.magic.gov.uk
- choose the Interactive Map
- at Step 1 select 'Land Classifications' from the drop down list
- once the map has opened the scale must be changed to at least 1:250,000 to
view the required information.
- Agricultural Land Classification (ALC)
Statistics (900 KB). Find out the
amount of each ALC Grade in England or in each Government office region,
county, unitary authority or district.
- For ALC maps and statistics for Wales please contact:
Ian Rugg
Technical
Services Division
Department for Environment, Planning & Countryside
Welsh Assembly Government
Unit 9, Cefnllan Science Park
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion. SY23 3AH
Tel: 01970 610203
Fax: 01970 610222
Email:
ian.rugg@wales.gsi.gov.uk
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