At LUC we have a long-standing involvement in the designation, planning and management of our designated landscapes. We are pleased to see that an independent review of designated landscapes in England is one of the key commitments of the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan.

The review, led by Julian Glover, has opened a public call for evidence, which closes in December 2018.

2019 will mark the 70th anniversary of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act (1949).  The Act, described at the time as “a recreational gift to Britain’s returning Second World War service men and women”, set out to recognise, conserve and enhance access to landscapes deemed to be “of national importance and quality”, and resulted in the creation of our family of designated landscapes in England including 10 National Parks and 34 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). In Scotland, 2018 marks the 40 anniversary of the publication of WM Murray’s seminal book ‘Scotland’s Scenic Heritage’ which paved the way for the designation of National Scenic Areas.

We see National Parks and AONB as beacons in delivering integrated environmental land management and public benefit. They pioneer new delivery mechanisms that could be rolled out more widely including the role of Environmental Land Management schemes in delivering public goods

One of our key concerns is that designated area Management Plans are given proper weight for planning and management, bringing stakeholders together and ensuring deliverable results to achieve the ambitions set out in the Environment Plan. It is important that an integrated approach is taken to the areas around designated landscapes in terms of land management, soils, water, flooding etc. and linking to their catchments and wider context including urban populations.

We are also keen to consider the role of new landscape designations including their relationship to people and public health benefits.  This has been recognised in Scotland, with National Parks required to meet social and local economic as well as environmental objectives.

We welcome the growing emphasis on public engagement in landscape issues but also recognise the continuing importance of identifying and managing the UK’s landscape ‘family silver’, something that needs a national perspective.

To achieve these aims the designations will need strong support and resourcing from Defra and its independent public body, Natural England.

Above all, we want to ensure our special, beautiful and diverse landscapes continue to have the highest level of protection, are fit for purpose and continue to meet the needs of society for the next 70 years.

Learn about landscape planning at LUC