How much of your local area is actually built on?
20th December 2017
A recent study has been conducted as part of the Co-ordination of Information of the Environment (Corine), which is an EU project which began in 1985; to keep track of land use. Corine uses high-definition satellite image to create detailed maps of the UK.
This data helps us to answer important questions: is our invaluable open countryside being destroyed by development? Is the rate of development out of control? Are forests being felled?
As so many of us live in built up areas or on the edge of settlements, it is often an easy assumption to make that a large amount of the UK is significantly developed. But this study reveals that it is fact only 5.9%. The largest amount of land in the UK is used for farmland (56.7%). A further 34.9% is natural and 2.5% is urban green. Considering the UK is an island, and home to more than 63 million people, this is quite remarkable.
However, what defines ‘built on’? ‘Built on’ encompasses buildings, roads, airports and quarries, so basically anything concrete.
Farmland refers to pastures, arable land, orchards etc. and natural includes moors, natural grassland, forests, lakes, etc. Green urban refers to development such as parks, gardens, golf courses and sports pitches.
As you might expect, the City of London has the largest percentage of land which is built on (98%) whilst in comparison, 64% of Derby is built on. See below:
Derby. Source: Corine Land Cover Atlas
The Derbyshire Dales is one of the least developed areas in the UK, with only 3% of the land classed as ‘built on’. A further 2% is green urban, and the highest percentage is farmland at 81%. 14% is classed as natural.
Derbyshire Dales. Source: Corine Land Cover Atlas
With 4 major towns in the locality (Alfreton, Ripley, Belper and Heanor), Amber Valley represents a more varied landscape, with 12% built on, 7% green urban, and 2% natural. However it still has a large amount of farmland, at 80%.
Amber Valley. Source: Corine Land Cover Atlas
We live our lives surrounded by buildings and roads, and as a result significantly overestimate how much there is. It is all too easy to forget how much undeveloped land there is out there to enjoy.
There is clearly a balance needed to be struck between the natural and developed world. If more green infrastructure were to be incorporated into our towns and cities, we might feel less overwhelmed by the built up areas we live our everyday lives in.
This information is readily available to everyone, in A Land Cover Atlas of the United Kingdom, accessible via: https://figshare.com/articles/A_Land_Cover_Atlas_of_the_United_Kingdom_Maps_/5219956