Where does soil sealing occur?

European data show clear spatial patterns. While some inner cities are becoming more compact, the highest land take occurs in commuting zones around cities. These areas often experience rapid housing development and new infrastructure, which leads to rising sealed area per capita. 

Analyses from the RECARE project found that: 

• Core cities tend to densify, reducing sealed area per person. 

• Peri-urban areas show increasing soil sealing, as new housing, roads, and services require more land. 

Between recent reporting periods (2012–2018 and 2018–2021), artificial areas in Europe increased significantly, often at the expense of arable lands, grasslands, forests, and pastures.