The UK lost natural land equivalent to the size of the New Forest—604 square kilometres—to development between 2018 and 2023, according to an exclusive analysis by the Guardian and European partners. This makes the UK the fifth-worst country in Europe for loss of green space relative to its geographic size.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 12 square kilometres of the most protected natural areas, known as national landscapes, were lost—the equivalent of 1,680 football pitches. Across Europe, natural areas the size of Cyprus were lost in the same period, based on satellite imagery analysed by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (Nina).
The research highlights tensions between environmental loss and economic gains from residential and industrial development. Large projects in national landscapes include the HS2 rail line cutting through the Chilterns, housing expansions in Dorset and Berkshire, and numerous smaller encroachments like barns and road widening.
Roger Mortlock, chief executive of the countryside charity CPRE, said: 'For a small island we are still struggling with the idea that land is finite. It’s shameful to be so near the top of this list when the countryside in this country is so valued—second only to the NHS.' He added that brownfield land remains unused while green fields are taken for development.
The findings come as the government’s new planning bill, currently passing through parliament, is criticised for potentially weakening environmental protections on 5,000 protected areas, allowing developers to bypass regulations by paying into a central fund.
