Natural England

Integrated Access Demonstration Projects

Integrated Access Management is a new way of improving access to the countryside. The new approach provides higher quality access to the countryside for everyone. At the same time, a better relationship with landowners helps deliver benefits for the environment and the local economy, resulting in a number of gains and the achievement of wider goals. CA178 - Integrated Access Management summarises this approach and is available both in hardcopy and to download.

Five of the six pilots employed a dedicated officer and was a partnership between the Countryside Agency, a host authority or institution and other relevant organisations. The first began in summer 2000 and the final project finished in spring 2005. Each project ran for three years and had a specific focus.

The experience of the Integrated Access Demonstration Projects (IADPs) is relevant to the implementation of part II of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. For example, the scheme informs and influences the preparation of Rights of Way Improvement Plans by testing new ways of improving access. 

The IADPs have recognised the interdependence between countryside access, education, social inclusion and tourism in facilitating a sustainable rural environment, economy and community. Their most significant achievements have been through initiatives, which extend across departmental and administrative boundaries.

National Objectives

1. Develop access management strategies that consider the needs of all countryside users.
2. Increase awareness of access issues among local planning authorities.
3. Build innovative partnerships to deliver integrated access.
4. Find new sources of funding to assist integrated access management.
5. Test different methods for improving the physical access opportunities.
6. Discover the best way to deliver information to the public.
7. Demonstrate how access can be successfully integrated with conservation and land management.
8. Show how access can deliver social and economic benefits.       

The Six Projects:

1. South East Hampshire
Focused at a sub-county scale, this project concentrated on the relationship between urban communities and the countryside and examines urban fringe access issues. The project worked closely with local planning authorities to identify ways in which new development can provide improved access to meet future needs, particularly through strategic planning.

A number of demonstration schemes have been developed including:

• Raising awareness of the role of public transport to link communities to the countryside; this has involved providing a new leisure bus service, information and infrastructure
• Working with local people to identify ways of improving and providing safe access to the countryside for equestrian users
• A project that is improving access on a large country estate that suffers from urban fringe problems
• “Trailblazer”: a scheme that encourages young people to learn about the countryside, building on initial research conducted by the project.       

Project Officer: Jo Hale. Telephone: 01962 847717. jo.hale@hants.gov.uk

2. Lancashire
A countywide project operating under the title “Access all Areas”. The primary focus was on developing and testing mechanisms for analysing use and demand at a county scale. 

Successful projects include:

• Completion of a countywide access audit.
• Integrating open access with conservation and private land management objectives in the Forest of Bowland using a partnership management system.         

This is a particularly valid example of how to ensure land opened to walkers by part I of the CROW Act is really available on the ground.

• Implementation of footpath improvement in the village of Rivington identified in a parish access audit and achieved through a partnership between the programme and the landowner. The path is now fully accessible and has been dedicated as a public right of way.       

Project Officer: Nick Osborne. Telephone: 01772 263920. nosborne@env.lancscc.gov.uk

3. The Chilterns
The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers two government regions and part of four counties, one unitary and ten district authorities. The integrated access project explored ways to overcome problems created by these administrative boundaries and improve access through partnership working. Specific projects included:

• Improved co-ordination of information for visitors through a website, events and joint marketing.
• Encouraging people who do not regularly visit the Chilterns countryside to do so by publicising improved facilities and targeting information specifically at visitors with limited mobility or from surrounding urban/ethnic communities.
• Assessment of the access and recreation resource and co-ordination of the many access providers to ensure a consistent approach across the Chilterns.       

Project Officer: James Littlewood. Telephone: 01844 271316. james.littlewood@chilternaonb.org.uk 

4. Lake District
“Open Return” was the only IADP set within a National Park. The project aimed to investigate the social, economic and environmental benefits of sustainable transport options in the countryside and demonstrate how integrated access management can help combat social exclusion. Work included:

• Launch of the B4 (Boat, Bus, Bike, Boot) Network – a new integrated boat-bus-boat service promoted with new walking and cycling routes.
• New bike carriage on the steam train, which connects to The Eskdale TRail cycle route allowing a circular route to be enjoyed.
• Focus Group research into the physical, psychological and social barriers preventing ethnic communities from visiting the Lake District National Park.
• Improving paths for people with limited mobility through proactive removal of physical barriers, improved information and a simple way of prioritising projects.       

Project Officer: Barney Hill. Telephone: 01539 724555. barneyhill@lake-district.gov.uk

5. Surrey
The Surrey Countryside Access Initiative tackled high car dependency. It explored how local economies can benefit from countryside access. Research revealed that increasing information to the public should be a priority. The following projects facilitated this:

• Booklets for specific destinations and user groups providing exciting itineraries, public transport links and heritage features.
• Walking packs: laminated cards suggesting circular routes to enable those with limited mobility to assess suitability for themselves.
• A “Quiet Lanes” initiative that encourages creative solutions in making country lanes better for walkers, cyclists and riders. Workshops and consultation allowed local communities to identify a network that meets their needs.
• A guided leisure bus service which links train stations and visitor attractions. Special ticket discounts at attractions and distinctive promotional materials encouraged uptake of the service.       

Project Officer: David Greenwood. Telephone: 020 85417005. david.greenwood@surreycc.gov.uk 

6. Rishworth Moor Yorkshire
This project was chosen to pilot a specific approach to integrating access in a area of high nature conservation interest. The project was delivered by consultants, started in 1999 in anticipation of CRoW. It focussed on a specific area of moorland owned by Yorkshire Water that is subject to a number of different nature conservation designations. It was an opportunity to pilot the Countryside Agency's Area Access Planning approach that was developed by Yorkshire and Humber region. The project concluded in August 2003.

The main outputs from the work have been:

• A Level 3 Area Access Plan, including an independent ecological assessment that informed
• A Management Plan for Rishworth Moor containing recommendations and costs for implementing access proposals in anticipation of commencement of Open Access later in 2004
• A review of Area Access Planning methodology with recommendations for consideration by the Countryside Agency.  

Yorkshire Water. Tel: 01274 691111