Land Use Framework discussion at the House of Lords
2 June 2026
On 2 June, the Rural Economy Research Group (RERG) hosted a focused discussion on the Land Use Framework in the House of Lords, sponsored by Baroness MacIntosh. This followed the broader Centre for Rural Economy event in April, where we explored the full scope of the Framework. This session focused on the critical issue of food production.
CRE’s Carmen Hubbard and Sally Shortall contributed to the debate, with Carmen serving as one of the key speakers. A central concern raised was that the current Framework places disproportionate emphasis on environmental land use. This imbalance has serious implications for tenant farmers, whose needs and vulnerabilities are not adequately addressed in the document.
The discussion was lively, constructive and well‑attended — and it didn’t end there. A convivial lunch followed, giving participants the chance to continue exchanging ideas and perspectives in a more informal setting.
As debates around land use intensify, events like this help ensure that food production, farming livelihoods and environmental priorities are considered together rather than in competition.
