The Landscape Institute welcomes the publication of the government’s new Environmental Improvement Plan and its recognition of resilient landscape as a vital component within it.  

We particularly endorse commitments to update landscape and seascape character assessments and review the implementation of the European Landscape Convention, both by the end of 2026. These are important steps towards embedding a landscape-led approach in decision making processes.    

We also welcome the commitment to significant funding from the agricultural support budget for the Landscape Recovery Scheme, alongside strengthened commitments to England’s protected landscapes such as National Parks and National Landscapes. 

However, therein also lies a significant shortfall. 

The Plan’s focus remains heavily weighted towards protected landscapes. While these play a vital role, such landscapes represent only a fraction of the places where people live and work, and where action can improve lives at the same time as the environment.  

Landscape is everywhere – not just in National Parks. To meet environmental goals and integrate multifunctional benefits for people, place and nature, landscape considerations must be made an integral part of all development and land use decisions. A landscape-led approach creates accessible and welcoming quality environments that improve public health and well-being, while creating connected biodiverse habitats, and respecting the local character of the area. 

We look forward to working with Defra, Natural England and others to ensure that the EIP is integrated with planning policy and aligned across government departments, so that landscape considerations are applied consistently in decisions on housing, infrastructure and land use. 

Image: View of the ‘HIVE’ across meadow landscape showing mounded landscape to building facade; © Hufton+Crow