Predictive Agricultural Land Classification Map for England at 1:250,000 Scale

A strategic-scale agricultural land classification map for England grades land from 1 (excellent) to 5 (very poor) based on inherent soil, climate, and site characteristics. The map provides a consistent national view, subdividing Grade 3 land into 3a and 3b according to 1988 MAFF guidelines. It is published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and was last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Identify land suitable for agricultural development based on the Grade 1-5 classification system.
• Support strategic planning decisions by mapping Best and Most Versatile (BMV) land, which includes Grades 1, 2, and 3a.
• Analyze regional variations in agricultural potential across England based on soil and climate factors.
• Update or validate local land-use plans with a consistent national-scale predictive map.

Strengths

• Provides a spatially comprehensive national view of land quality for England.
• Applies a standardized grading system (Grades 1-5) with a defined subdivision for Grade 3 (3a/3b).
• Represents a significant update from a previous provisional map, likely improving consistency.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale ML projects.
• Based on 1988 MAFF guidelines; soil and climate conditions may have changed since the methodology was established.

Provenance

Source

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Collection Method

Predictive mapping based on the Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) system assessing soil, climate, and site characteristics.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-13 22:04:27.285925; freshness should be verified.

Geography

England