Natural England
Printable version E-mail this to a friend

National Park expansion proposals – the next steps

In September 2011, Natural England’s Board confirmed that it would be recommending extensions to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Park boundaries: the relevant Variation Orders to extend the Park boundaries, maps and boundary descriptions will shortly be presented to the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs for her consideration.

These documents are also being made available for public inspection yesterday and between now and 16 March 2012 there is a formal opportunity for everyone to provide comments to Defra on the proposals.

David Vose, Natural England’s manager for the Lakes to Dales project said; “After two public consultations and formal agreement by our Board, the proposals to extend the two National Parks will shortly be submitted to the Secretary of State.  In the next six weeks, people can send their views to Defra about whether they support the proposals or not, whether there are amendments that they would like to suggest.”

Having considered all the responses, the Secretary of State will decide whether to confirm the Variation Orders or whether to make modifications to the proposed boundaries.  Any changes to the National Park  boundaries will only take effect once they have received confirmation from the Secretary of State.

In the Yorkshire Dales National Park the recommended changes relate to an area of approximately 418 square kilometres in Cumbria and Lancashire, in and around

  • The northern Howgill Fells, Wild Boar Fell, Mallerstang and part of the Orton Fells (all in Eden District)

  • Middleton, Barbon, Casterton and Leck Fells, part of Firbank Fell, part of the Lune Valley and fells to the west (in the Districts of South Lakeland and Lancaster City)

In the Lake District National Park the recommended changes relate to an area of approximately 70 square kilometres in the Cumbria, in and around

  • Birkbeck Fells Common, Bretherdale, Borrowdale, Whinfell, Grayrigg and Dillicar Commons and adjacent land (in Eden District and South Lakeland District) and

  • Helsington Barrows to Sizergh Fell and part of the Lyth Valley and land to the North of Sizergh (in South Lakeland District)

The documents describing these proposals can be viewed online and at 18 locations in and around the project area until 16 March 2012.  Please visit www.naturalengland.org.uk/lakestodales, email nwdesignationproject@naturalengland.org.uk or phone 0300 0602178 for more information. 

Until 16 March 2012 there will be an opportunity for anyone wishing to make an objection or representation to the Orders to sent these  in writing to:

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs,
Protected Landscapes Team,
Zone 1/09, Temple Quay House,
2 The Square,
Temple Quay,
Bristol
BS1 6EB 
nwvariationorders@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Spotlight on women at Serco – Anita’s story