National Park review announced
July 17, 2018
At the end of May the Government announced a review of England’s National Parks led by Julian Glover. Words by Tim Slaney, SDNPA’s Director of Planning.
After the Second World War Arthur Hobhouse, a favourite of the Bloomsbury set, was asked to lead a review into the potential for British National Parks. In his 1949 report he suggested 12. Ten were implemented in the 1950’s with the New Forest and South Downs National Parks designated in 2005 and 2009 respectively.
Hobhouse’s concept of national parks that conserve natural beauty whilst allowing people to access and understand it, still hold firm today. With the oldest national park, the Peak District, approaching its 70th birthday, they can be held up as a success in allowing wonderful and inspirational places to be conserved and enhanced whilst helping communities within them flourish.
The announcement of the new review recognised the success of the designations and the work National Park Authorities do. Julian Glover and his team have been charged with looking at many aspects of national parks, as well as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty which are also designated landscapes. He is a writer who is passionate about the countryside as well as being experienced in politics. Whilst the review will be wide-ranging, and has the potential to lead to the creation of new national parks, he advises it will not reduce the protection given to England’s designated landscapes in either their geographic extent or the protections.
The review team are already planning their first visits to the South Downs and other national parks to see all that we have to offer and what the Authority and our partners do. We’re looking forward to showing them our partnership Planning Service model that does so much to manage and mitigate the effects of development upon our landscapes; how we always seek benefits that enhance the natural beauty and wellbeing of the area; our ground-breaking Local Plan that facilities sensitive growth; and the great work that National Park communities are doing to develop their own neighbourhood plans.
Find out more about the Government’s 2018 review of Designated Landscapes
www.gov.uk/government/publications/designated-landscapes-national-parks-and-aonbs-2018-review