Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-land-assess-proposals-for-development

Change description : 2026-07-24 08:29:00: Added a link to the predictive ALC Map for England in section 5. LPAs: carry out ALC assessments to support your planning decisions. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : ..2026-07-24 07:29:50.789402355 +00:00

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).

From:
Natural England
Published:
16 January 2018
Last updated:
24 July 2026 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Guide to assessing development proposals on agricultural land

HTML

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 24 July 2026 — Show all updates

  1. Added a link to the predictive ALC Map for England in section 5. LPAs: carry out ALC assessments to support your planning decisions.

  2. 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.

  3. First published.

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Update history

2026-07-24 08:29
Added a link to the predictive ALC Map for England in section 5. LPAs: carry out ALC assessments to support your planning decisions.