Provisional Agricultural Land Classification (ALC)

notPlanned

A number of consistent criteria used for assessment which include climate (temperature, rainfall, aspect, exposure, frost risk), site (gradient, micro-relief, flood risk) and soil (depth, structure, texture, chemicals, stoniness) for England only. Digitised from the published 1:250,000 map which was in turn compiled from the 1 inch to the mile maps. After the introduction of the ALC system in 1966 the whole of England and Wales was mapped from reconnaissance field surveys, to provide general strategic guidance on land quality or planners. This Provisional Series of maps was published on an Ordnance Survey base at a scale of One Inch to One Mile in the period 1967 to 1974. These maps are not sufficiently accurate for use in assessment of individual fields or development sites, and should not be used other than as general guidance. They show only five grades: their preparation receded the subdivision of Grade 3 and the refinement of criteria, which occurred after 1976. These are more appropriate for the strategic use originally intended.