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Legal Summary

National Parks

Land may be in a National Park, but this does not necessarily mean that it will be publicly owned. The National Park regime passes a number of the environmental protection or planning functions of local authorities to joint planning boards etc. (comprising constituent authorities) or National Park Authorities.

Authorities have special duties in respect of National Parks, concerning protection of the natural beauty and wildlife and promoting public enjoyment. National park status will mean that decisions about regulatory consents etc. will need to be sought from the relevant Park body, and that that body will need to apply its duty to secure and enhance the natural beauty and wildlife of the Park when considering consent applications.

Other than these changes to regulatory bodies and the matters they must take into account, there are no special controls or permitting regimes that apply particularly to National Parks.

In the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, the Broads Authority carries on certain functions similar to those of a National Park Authority; and in coming years, Conservation Boards may be established in respect of certain Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and these would have a similar but reduced role.

See National Nature Conservation Designations and Orders - including SSSIs and National Nature Reserves: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/ewd/ewd08.htm