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The Secretary of State Elizabeth Truss MP has recently confirmed extensions to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks.

The confirmed variation to the Lake District National Park will include an additional area of land totalling approximately 27 square miles, situated in Cumbria. It will include land:

• to the east, to include an area from Birkbeck fells Common to Whinfell Common
• to the south, to include an area from Helsington Barrows to Sizergh Fell, an area north of Sizergh Castle and part of the Lyth valley

The confirmed variation to the Yorkshire Dales National Park will include an additional area of land totalling approximately 161 square miles, situated in Cumbria and, for the first time, an area of Lancashire:

• to the north, to include parts of the Orton Fells, the northern Howgill Fells, Wild Boar Fell, and Mallerstang
• to the south, to include Barbon, Casterton and Leck fells, the River Lune and part of Firbank Fell and other fells to the west of the River Lune

These new areas join the ranks of some of the country’s most highly protected landscapes and amount to the most significant addition to England’s National Parks since the confirmation of the South Downs in 2009.

Speaking in the Yorkshire Dales National Park recently, Natural England’s Chairman Andrew Sells, added:

I very much welcome the Secretary of State’s decision to extend the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks in line with the recommendations made by Natural England.

The Chancellor’s Northern Powerhouse depends upon the ‘natural capital’ provided by our iconic National Parks. They represent some of England’s most treasured natural assets. With international appeal, their stunning landscapes stand out as a beacon to the people who come to enjoy them whilst their intrinsic value drives the communities, businesses and biodiversity they support. Extending these today confirms their great importance and provides them with the recognition they richly deserve.

Natural England has special responsibilities for creating National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and reviewing their boundaries. The potential to extend the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks was considered for a number of years and Natural England began work in 2009 to look at whether the boundaries should be changed. Detailed assessments were made of the areas, which used the 3 criteria for National Park status: the natural beauty of the proposed extensions; the opportunities that they provide for open-air recreation, and the desirability of looking after them as National Parks. Impact assessments also helped identify the environmental, social, economic and recreational impacts that designation would be likely to bring.

Two phases of face-to-face and online consultations were held, to ask for opinions from the public, local communities, statutory agencies, interested organisations and local authorities. Over two-thirds of respondents said they were in favour of extending the National Parks and there was widespread consensus that the proposals met the criteria. Natural England then issued a legal document known as a variation order which paved the way for the recent decision by the Secretary of State.

For further information including maps and next steps, see the decision page.

Read Defra’s announcement.