The Protected Landscape Approach - Centre for Mediterranean ...

9. Protected landscapes in the United Kingdom
wildlife trusts. Many designated areas are important for their traditional, less intensive land use
patterns, biodiversity, history and archaeology, cultural significance and recreation. Indeed,
since the outset, recreation and access to the countryside for urban populations have helped
shape Protected Landscape policy in the UK, and there is still a strong social bias in their
planning and management.
In England and Wales, National Parks are a special kind of local authority, administered
through a central/local government partnership, and subject to national guidance. In Scotland,
they are non-departmental government bodies. But in all UK National Parks, the authorities are
made up of (i) local government representatives, and (ii) appointees of the minister in England,
of the National Assembly in Wales or of Scottish Ministers. In England, almost half the
Minister’s appointees represent the parishes (the lowest tier of local government). In Scotland,
direct elections by local communities contribute 20% of the members. If a National Park
Authority is established in Northern Ireland, its composition will be decided afer consultation.
The National Parks have powers to control land use, influence the management of land and
water, and promote public understanding of the area and appropriate forms of recreation. For
this, they are well resourced and receive nearly all their net funding from central government
(though they can ‘earn’ additional income through trading operations such as sales of books,
maps and other merchandise in Visitor Centres; and through fees for processing planning
applications as well as rentals or concessions).
AONBs and NSAs are run by local authorities (i.e., counties, districts or unitary authorities).
They too are subject to national guidance but receive less public financial support than the
Box 1.
Land use planning in the UK system of national parks
All land in the UK, including the national parks, is covered by comprehensive land-use planning
legislation, dating from 1947. All significant developments or changes in land-use are controlled by
the local planning authority (LPA), which has to prepare a development plan for its area. In England
and Wales (but not in Scotland) the national park authority (NPA) is the LPA.
At the national level, policy advice on land use planning is provided by central government
through formal policy guidance. This guidance makes it clear that....major development should not
take place in the National Parks....save in exceptional circumstances...proposals must be subject to
the most rigorous examination.
Development Plans are prepared to cover all national parks in the UK, either by the NPA alone or
jointly with the local authority. Plans include both strategic policies for land use and development,
and much more detailed policies reflecting local needs and circumstances. Development plans,
which normally have a 10-year time horizon and are reviewed every five years, are usually adopted
following a public inquiry.
Once adopted, the plans guide the nature and location of development that is appropriate in the
park. Implementation is mainly achieved through development control, that is the detailed system by
which approval is sought for building, land use change, etc. Permission may be granted, refused or
approved conditionally. There is a right of appeal against the NPA’s decision.
The National Park Management Plan is not formally part of the land use system but it does
provide a local framework for development plan and control policies.
Source: Michael Beresford.
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