About us

We are a cross-sector initiative that aims to:

• Raise awareness of the importance of soil in developing and supporting a sustainable built environment  

• Set out more ambitious principles for how we can incorporate soil sustainability in planning and construction  

• Support adoption of soil sustainability in practice across planning and development

Established in 2021, the Soils Task Force combines world-class soil research expertise with industry and policy insights and leadership to re-think how soil sustainability is embedded in planning and construction.  

With support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, we assembled a scientific evidence base on the impacts of planning and construction on soils in the UK and co-developed a set of new guiding principles for embedding soil sustainability in planning and Construction. This work was summarised in the Building on Soil Sustainability Report and shared in a series of national and international events during 2022/23.

With continuing commitment to collaborate as a Task Force, we now seek to accelerate the adoption of the principles in specific settings.