Background to the formation of England's National Parks
The English countryside has extensive areas of significant natural beauty. The hills, valleys, woods and water features combine to form a rich diversity of scenery and environmental assets that are of great value to the nation.
Accordingly, the Government decided in 1949 to provide legislation to protect these areas as something precious – a beautiful countryside to be passed on to future generations. The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act was enacted and the wilder, more dramatic landscapes became National Parks.
National Park Authorities
The Environment Act 1995 led to the creation of the National Park Authorities (NPAs): local authorities in their own right which have forward planning, development control functions and other executive powers.
Their statutory purposes (as defined by the Environment Act 1995) are:
- To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Park.
- To promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Parks by the public.
If there is a conflict between these two purposes greater weight is given to conservation than to recreational needs, this is known as the ‘Sandford Principle’
. In pursuing these purposes, NPAs also have a duty to foster the social and economic wellbeing of their local communities.
The government allocates 100 per cent of the NPAs budget direct to the individual NPA. In 2010/11, Defra grant in aid to English National Parks totalled £55,874,076.
National Park Authority membership is split into three sections with representation drawn from the local authorities and parish councils with land within the designation and Secretary of State appointees recruited to represent interests which exemplify the national significance of the designation.
In each case, there will be a greater number of members representing the local authorities and parishes than the national appointees. Most National Park Authorities currently have 22 serving members on their main boards, although exceptions apply for the Peak District and South Downs on account of the size of the designation.
Defra have recently undertaken a review consultation on of the governance arrangements for the National Parks and the Broads, see their website for more information on the outcomes of this exercise.
National Park Management Plans
Under the provisions of the Environment Act 1995, National Park Authorities are required to produce a management plan for the National Park which outlines activities in support of the conservation and enhancement of its special qualities. The plans set out the vision for the management of the National Park as well as guiding the allocation of resources for the National Park Authority itself and have been mandatory in England and Wales since the enactment of the Local Government Act 1974.
Engaging others in managing National Parks
While prepared by the National Park Authorities, successful designation management and management planning where land lies within the ownership of others relies on engagement and support from others. With this in mind, National Park management plans are produced in full consultation with others, drawing on the expert knowledge and expertise of key partners and stakeholders.
Through working in partnership the management plans seek to ensure benefits are delivered for the Park’s environment, residents and visitors in a balanced and sustainable way, securing successful policies as an equally important aspect of that process.
Guidance on the production and review of the plans can be downloaded from the publications section of our website. CA216 – National Parks Management Plans – a guide.
