Land use in the West of England: key insights and challenges

Effectively managing land use across the West of England is essential for a sustainable transition to a net-zero economy. Achieving net zero in the region will not be a matter of developing on vast new land parcels, instead — reusing and adapting the land that is already in use will be key. Effective policy approaches should therefore focus on maximising the productive use of previously developed land. This calls for a shared understanding of priorities and a spatial plan that integrates inputs from across the region’s local authorities.

Green belt and landscape protections 

The majority of land in the region is in the Avon green belt. This includes 70.4% of the land in Bath & North East Somerset, 46.3% in South Gloucestershire and 41.5% in North Somerset. Just 5.5% of Bristol is designated, reflecting its urban character (DLUHC, 2024; CPRE n.d.). The 63,000 ha of designated land within the West of England compares with approximately 43,000 ha of designated land in Nottingham and Derby, an area with a similar population (CPRE, n.d.).  

Green belt designations limit opportunities for outward expansion beyond existing urban areas. This is shown by the sharp gradient between developed and undeveloped land in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Map of non-developed land distribution, West of England

Source: analysis of data from DLUHC, 2022.

The region also includes statutory landscape protections in the Cotswolds and the Mendip Hills – both designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Under this status, any development proposals must provide evidence that they will not undermine landscape character (Natural England, 2023; InfoSomerset, 2023).

In addition to the limitations that green belt land places on outward urban development, these restrictions in rural areas can place limitations on sustainable energy development. Local planning guidance in North Somerset explicitly states that wind turbines are unlikely to be supported within such designations (North Somerset Council, 2021). Similarly, solar farms near the Mendips have been subject to rigorous Environmental Impact Assessments and in some cases been rejected due to landscape and visual impacts (Mendip Hills AONB, 2011). 

These land constraints serve an important policy function in preventing urban sprawl, conserving space for nature and encouraging densification. They also provide close access to nature for citizens and protect the rural character of towns and villages. Much of the land is dedicated to agricultural activities, which are critical to UK food security and are likely to become even more important in the future due to climate change (DEFRA 2026).

Nevertheless, the substantial designation of land in the West of England is a key constraint on land-use transformation. When considering other policy imperatives in the region – such as housebuilding and renewable energy – these restrictions require policymakers to enact spatial planning measures that maximise use of existing urbanised land and brownfield resources.

Flood risk constraints 

Legal protections are not the only factor limiting development in the region – flooding represents a critical constraint on future development potential, and an escalating risk to the built environment.

At Avonmouth and Severnside, tidal flooding threatens industrial and logistics facilities that are central to the region’s economy and future low-carbon industries. Around 2,500 properties are at risk along 17km of the Severn Estuary frontage (ASEA Project, 2021). In Bristol, approximately 7% of properties lie within medium or high flood-risk zones, primarily along the River Avon (Urban Water, 2025). North Somerset includes areas facing both coastal and surface-water flooding (North Somerset Council, 2025). This poses a significant challenge for housebuilders: much of the undeveloped land in the region is in low lying areas and development proposals are frequently challenged on grounds of flood risk.

Climate change is expected to exacerbate these risks, with wetter winters and more frequent storms leading to more severe flood events, and coastal areas facing the effects of sea level rise (Thomson Environmental Consultants, 2024

Implications for net zero and nature recovery 

The green belt, landscape designations and flood risk restrict availability for land-based renewables in the region, with large-scale renewable energy projects being particularly affected.

Nationally, between 2018 and 2023, over 60% of renewable energy projects failed to clear the planning system, with refusals and withdrawals most common in sensitive landscapes (Cornwall Insight, 2024). In the West of England, this suggests that scalable renewable decarbonisation must rely on a different mix of interventions.

Distributed solar – small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on residential rooftops and commercial buildings that generate electricity at or near the point of consumption — offers an immediate route to expand renewable capacity without using additional land. Regional initiatives such as ‘Solar Together West of England’ have already delivered over 1,700 installations, adding 6.5 megawatts (MW) of capacity and avoiding 33,000 tonnes of carbon over a 25-year period (WECA, 2025).

Brownfield regeneration and industrial site reuse offer opportunities for renewable energy development on previously developed land, though site selection must carefully account for flood vulnerability. Strategic planning could prioritize less constrained brownfield sites.

Prioritising the recovery of nature in future plans is also essential. The Local Nature Recovery Strategy maps focus on areas where habitat creation and renewable development can be aligned, helping to reduce ecological conflict in the future (WECA, 2024). 

Conclusion

Understanding land use categorisations in the West of England reveals a significant tension between net-zero targets and a constrained land base with limited space for renewable energy and industrial expansion. Flood risk compounds this constraint, particularly in the region’s industrial cluster at Avonmouth/Severnside.

Any policy response should therefore emphasise brownfield reuse, rooftop generation and targeted development in low-sensitivity locations for renewable energy, supported by robust evidence and regional coordination.  

References

ASEA Project. (2021). FAQs – Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area. Available at: https://asea-flood-ecology.co.uk/faqs/ Accessed: 18.11.25 

Bath and North East Somerset Council. (2008). Green Belt Supplementary Planning Document. Bath: B&NES Council. Available at: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/supplementary-planning-documents Accessed: 18.11.25 

Campaign to Protect Rural England (no date) 'Interactive map of England's Green Belt' available online at https://www.cpre.org.uk/interactive-map-of-englands-green-belt-land/ Accessed: 20.02.26

Cornwall Insight. (2024). Planning challenges put renewable energy projects at risk. Available at: https://www.cornwall-insight.com/press/planning-challenges-put-renewable-energy-projects-at-risk Accessed: 18.11.25  

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) (2026). Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security. A national security assessment. HM Government. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0eae719d837d69afc7de/National_security_assessment_-_global_biodiversity_loss__ecosystem_collapse_and_national_security.pdf Accessed: 24.01.26

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), (2022), Land use in England 2022. London: DLUHC. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/land-use-in-england-2022 Accessed: 18.11.25

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). (2024). Local authority Green Belt: England 2023–24 statistical release. London: DLUHC. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-green-belt-statistics-for-england-2023-to-2024 Accessed: 18.11.25  

InfoSomerset. (2023). Mendip Hills National Landscape. Available at: https://www.infosomerset.co.uk/explore/mendip-hills-aonb Accessed: 18.11.25 

Mendip Hills AONB. (2011). Solar Park Proposal Guidance. Mendip Hills AONB Unit. Available at: https://www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk/2011/02/01/solar-park-proposal Accessed: 18.11.25 

Mendip Hills AONB. (2011). Solar Park Proposal Guidance. Mendip Hills AONB Unit. Available at: https://www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk/2011/02/01/solar-park-proposal Accessed: 18.11.25

Natural England. (2023). Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/protected-areas-sites-of-special-scientific-interest Accessed: 18.11.25 

North Somerset Council. (2021). Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Generation in North Somerset: Wind Turbines Draft SPD. North Somerset Council. Available at: https://n-somerset-pp.inconsult.uk/consult.ti/wt_dspd/ Accessed: 18.11.25

North Somerset Council. (2025). Flooding advice for residents. North Somerset Council. Available at: https://n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/nuisances-pollution-environmental-issues/flooding-drainage Accessed: 18.11.25 

South Gloucestershire Council (2025).  Climate and nature emergency in South Gloucestershire | BETA - South Gloucestershire Council.  Available: https://beta.southglos.gov.uk/climate-emergency-in-south-gloucestershire/ Accessed: 11.12.25 

Thomson Environmental Consultants. (2024). High Flood Risk Areas and Flood Mitigation in England. Available at: https://www.thomsonec.com/news/high-flood-risk-areas-and-flood-mitigation-in-england/ Accessed: 18.11.25 

Urban Water. (2025). Flood Risk Map. Available at: https://urban-water.co.uk/flood-risk-map/ Accessed: 18.11.25 

West of England Combined Authority (WECA). (2024) Climate and Ecological Plan. Available at: https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/climate-ecological-strategy/ Accessed: 21.11.25 

West of England Combined Authority (WECA). (2025).  Solar Together WOE. Available at: https://westofengland-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/retrofit-sustainable-buildings-and-places/solar-together/ Accessed: 18.11.25