The Collection of National Land-Use Statistics in Great Britain: A Critique

Abstract

The collection of land-use change statistics under DoE Circular 71/74 is criticised on three grounds. First, there is no standard land-use classification employed consistently by all local authorities. Second, there is no standard and unambiguous set of areal units to which such a classification could be applied. Third, there is no efficient means of collecting land-use data in a form which meets the information needs of policymakers. Adoption of a standard land-use classification applied to functional units is advocated. It is argued that point sampling is a cheap and efficient means of collecting land-use statistics in a form which meets planning needs. The advantages of point sampling compared with alternative techniques are considered in detail.

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