Chapter 6 - Land Holdings and Buildings
                         
Table 6.2 Land holdings by country and whether owned, leased or with legal rights, at 1 April
                     each year in thousand hectares
  1990   1997   2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 1
Land & foreshore holdings and Rights held2
 344.0   364.1   371.1 371.0 365.7 365.6 365.6 373.4 372.0  
Land and foreshore holdings
 240.6   239.6   240.0 239.9 240.7 240.7 240.7 240.3 239.0  
    Freehold
 225.1   223.9   219.6 219.5 220.4 220.4 220.4 220.0 219.0  
    Leasehold
 15.5   15.7   20.4 20.4 20.4 20.3 20.3 20.3 20.0  
Rights held2
 103.4   124.5   131.1 131.1 124.9 124.9 124.9 133.1 133.0  
                         
England
 226.0   226.9   229.8 229.7 224.2 224.2 224.2 223.9 223.0  
Land and foreshore holdings
 195.4   192.6   189.1 189.0 189.8 189.8 189.8 189.5 188.0  
    Freehold
 182.9   179.8   171.7 171.6 172.5 172.5 172.5 172.2 171.0  
    Leasehold
 12.5   12.8   17.4 17.4 17.3 17.3 17.3 17.3 17.0  
Rights held2
 30.6   34.3   40.7 40.7 34.4 34.4 34.4 34.4 34.0  
                         
Wales
 23.4   23.0   22.9 22.9 22.9 22.9 22.9 22.9 23.0  
Land and foreshore holdings
 21.0   20.9   20.7 20.7 20.7 20.7 20.7 20.7 21.0  
    Freehold
 20.9   20.8   20.5 20.5 20.5 20.5 20.5 20.5 21.0  
    Leasehold
 0.1   0.1   0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 -  
Rights held2
 2.4   2.1   2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.0  
                         
Scotland
 91.2   110.9   115.2 115.2 115.3 115.3 115.3 123.4 124.0  
Land and foreshore holdings
 20.8   22.9   27.1 27.1 27.2 27.2 27.2 27.1 27.0  
    Freehold
 18.3   20.4   24.6 24.6 24.6 24.6 24.6 24.6 25.0  
    Leasehold
 2.5   2.5   2.5 2.5 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 3.0  
Rights held2
 70.4   88.0   88.1 88.1 88.1 88.1 88.1 96.3 96.0  
                         
Northern Ireland
 3.4   3.3   3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.0  
Land and foreshore holdings
 3.4   3.2   3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.0  
    Freehold
 3.0   2.9   2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 3.0  
    Leasehold
 0.4   0.3   0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 -  
Rights held2
 -   0.1   0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 -  
Land and foreshore holdings
 240.6   239.6   240.0 239.9 240.7 240.7 240.7 240.3 239.0  
Land
 222.6   221.0   221.4 221.3 222.1 222.0 222.0 221.7 221.0  
    England
 180.3   177.3   173.8 173.7 174.5 174.5 174.5 174.2 173.0  
    Wales
 20.0   19.8   19.7 19.7 19.7 19.7 19.7 19.7 20.0  
    Scotland
 19.2   20.8   25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 24.9 25.0  
    Northern Ireland
 3.1   3.1   2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.0  
                         
Foreshore
 18.0   18.6   18.6 18.6 18.6 18.6 18.6 18.6 18.0  
    England
 15.1   15.3   15.3 15.3 15.3 15.3 15.3 15.3 15.0  
    Wales
 1.0   1.0   1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0  
    Scotland
 1.6   2.1   2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.0  
    Northern Ireland
 0.3   0.2   0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 -  
Source: MOD Defence Estates
These holdings include land declared as surplus to defence requirements.
A thousand hectares is 3.86 square miles.
1. Data for 2009 have been rounded to the nearest thousand hectares, whereas data for previous years are rounded to the nearest hundred hectares. This is     because during compilation of the figures some minor inconsistencies were identified at the hundred hectares level which were unable to be resolved in time     for publication. The cause of these inconsistencies will be investigated prior to publication of UKDS 2010.
2. Rights held are Land and foreshore that are not owned by, or leased to MOD, but over which the Department has limited rights under grants and rights.

Statistics show that the estate size has not moved significantly in recent years. Disposals and acquisitions have occurred, but the overall impact on the overall estate size is not significant. The basis of measurement is currently under review to ensure it reflects changes and improvements in technology.