As our latest research uncovers, fewer than 1 in every 200 of England’s population own half of England’s land. This underscores a tragic, extreme concentration of land ownership atop a small elite. Fewer than 25,000 landowners control huge swathes of land nationwide. Yet most of them are members of the aristocracy and corporations. This is both a matter of equity and fairness for local communities.
One of the most visible landowners is the Duke of Buccleuch. He had a considerable landed estate, too – the Boughton estate on Northamptonshire. One well-known exception is the Queen, who does indeed own about 1.4% of England. Businessman James Dyson heads Beeswax Dyson Farming, a major agricultural enterprise. This business is central to the continued concentration of our nation’s land ownership.
The aristocracy and gentry still own about 30% of the land of England, an extreme example of the permanence of historical land grants. Some of Scotland’s largest grouse moor estates are amongst the biggest land owners in the area. The Duke of Bedford still owns the Woburn estate, as do the present Duke and Duchess of Beaufort – the Badminton estate in Gloucestershire. These holdings offer an unsettling portrait of how regressive power structures continue to dominate modern discourse and public policy.
The role of corporations in shaping land ownership in England today is vast. They now control 18% of the land, including some entities based out of the country or in offshore jurisdictions. In addition, the public sector – central and local government, and universities – makes up 8% of land ownership. By comparison, England’s homeowners own an utterly pathetic 5% of the country’s land.
If the land were to be distributed evenly among England’s population, each person would receive just over half an acre. However, a huge swathe of land continues to remain undeclared at the Land Registry. Reality check In fact the owners of 17% England and Wales still universe publicly unknown.
That concentration has come under fire from all sides. Guy Shrubsole, an advocate for equitable land distribution, noted, “Most people remain unaware of quite how much land is owned by so few.” He added that “Land is a source of wealth, it impacts on house prices, it is a source of food and it can provide enjoyment for millions of people.”
Jon Trickett has commented on this issue, emphasizing that “the dramatic concentration of land ownership is an inescapable reminder that ours is a country for the few and not the many.” These disparities beg the question of how well these investments benefit local communities and where the power to control land use governs.
The Scottish Land Commission has reported similar patterns in Scotland, observing that large landowners behave like monopolies, exerting excessive control over land use and community engagement. This alarming trend highlights how concentrated wealth and power drives have real-world consequences on the most vulnerable among us.
In a moment when the conversations around ownership of land and equity are more present than ever, it’s crucial that we work to remedy these disparities. Advocates for reform argue that a more equitable distribution of land could foster greater community engagement and enhance economic opportunities for a broader swath of the population.