Natural England - Opportunities and optimum sitings for energy crops

Opportunities and optimum sitings for energy crops

The impacts of energy crops can vary at a local level.

In 2005, Defra set up a working group to develop and produce a set of regional maps identifying opportunities and optimum sitings for energy crops (short rotation coppice (SRC) and miscanthus). This work was referred to in the Government’s Response to the Biomass Task Force and completed at the end of 2006.

The regional maps are to be used as a tool to provide guidance to those seeking to develop energy crops (see links on right). They show the best areas for growing the crops plus the areas where this is not appropriate or care would need to be taken from an environmental point of view. Users are likely to include:

  • farmers who are looking to plant energy crops
  • end users looking to locate in suitable areas
  • Forestry Commission
  • Natural England
  • Government Offices
  • Regional Development Agencies
  • Defra

It must be stressed that the maps are only indicative and should not be regarded as definitive with respect to individual applications. They provide the basis for future work which will provide detailed regional guidance for the planting of energy crops. There is clear guidance on their use and it is important that this is referred to when looking at the maps.

5 PDF maps have been produced for each English region along with associated guidance.