National Parks Boundary Review - Countryside Agency Board gives go ahead to tackle ‘unfinished business’ in the North West At today’s (5th May) meeting of the Countryside Agency, the Board agreed that additional land in the North West meets the stat...
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National Parks Boundary Review - Countryside Agency Board gives go ahead

The Countryside Agency Board has given the go-ahead to tackle ‘unfinished business’ in the North West. At today’s (5th May) meeting of the Countryside Agency, the Board agreed that additional land in the North West meets the statutory designation criteria¹ for a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Board instructed officers to identify draft boundaries for Designation (Variation) Orders for the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks, and to consider other proposals for change to AONB boundaries in the region at a later date.

Countryside Agency chairman, Stuart Burgess, said:“The Countryside Agency has a statutory duty² to designate and conserve areas of outstanding landscape quality and to encourage the conservation of landscape character everywhere. 

“This landscape has repeatedly and consistently been recognised as being of the highest quality, and therefore worthy of national landscape designation. Much of the distinctive landscape character of this area crosses existing National Park boundaries, which were drawn primarily on administrative grounds, and were proposed for designation in the Hobhouse report (1947).

“As a result of the landscape’s unique qualities and the public interest in tackling ‘unfinished business’ in this area, the Countryside Agency will now begin work to identify draft boundaries for variation orders for the Lake District³ and Yorkshire Dales National Parks.”

The Countryside Agency will be reviewing the boundaries in the following areas: 

  • Mallerstang, Orton Fells, the northern Howgills, parts of the Lune Valley, Middleton Fell, Barbon Fell, Leck Fell and the Cold Cotes area are proposed as a variation to the Yorkshire Dales National Park;
  • Birkbeck Fells Common, Whinash, Borrowdale, Whinfell, and an area near Brigsteer and River Kent are proposed as a variation to the Lake District National Park;

Changes to the following AONB boundaries will be reviewed at a later date:

  • Skirwith, Dufton and Stainmore are proposed as a variation to North Pennines AONB; and
  • Hutton Roof and Farleton Fell are proposed as a variation to Arnside & Silverdale AONB.

Today’s Board Paper - AP05/18 – including a map of the areas of search for land worthy of landscape designation in the North West region, is available on our website at: http://www.countryside.gov.uk/WhoWeAreAndWhatWeDo/boardMeetings/agendas/50thCA_Agenda.asp

Note to editors:  

¹ “National Parks are extensive tracts of land that by reason of their natural beauty and the opportunities they afford for open-air recreation, having regard both to their character and their position in relation to centres of population…” (Section 5(2) Countryside and Rights of Way Act, 1949, Section 61(1) environment Act, 1995)

An AONB is land outside a National Park of such outstanding natural beauty that it is desirable that statutory provisions relating to designated areas apply for conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the area. (Section 82 Countryside and Rights of Way Act).

² Re National Parks, the Countryside Agency has a statutory duty to consider from time to time what areas in England meet the criteria for designation as National Park, to consider in which order they should be designated and to proceed with their designation at such times as the Agency may determine, under Section 6(1) of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949. 

Re AONBs the Countryside Agency has statutory powers to designate Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty where is appears that areas outside National Parks meet the designation criteria, under Section 82 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, 2000.

The Countryside Agency also has powers to amend an Order designating a National Park under Section 45(1) Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and to amend an Order designating an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty under Section 83(7) Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

³ Part of the area adjacent to the Lake District National Park is the subject of the current Whinash wind farm application (where the Agency is an objector at the public inquiry). Before the Board proceeds with any formal public consultation on a draft boundary for this area, it will take into account any decision on the wind farm application.

The Countryside Agency is the statutory body working to make the quality of life better for people in the countryside and the quality of the countryside better for everyone. It is a non-departmental body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. 

The Countryside Agency has changed: As the result of Defra’s Rural Strategy published in July 2004, from 1 April 2005 we have established distinctive new divisions:

  • Commission for Rural Communities- to act as a rural advocate, expert adviser and independent watchdog with a particular focus on disadvantage; and
  • Landscape, Access and Recreation  division - aims to help everyone respect, protect and enjoy the countryside – protecting natural landscapes; and encouraging access to an enjoyment of the countryside and sustainable land management.
  • Following publication of the draft Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill in February 2005, English Nature, Defra’s Rural Development Service and the Countryside Agency’s Landscape, Access and Recreation division are working towards integration as a single body. This new body, Natural England, will work for people, places and nature.