Appraisal of Options on Access to the
Open Countryside of England and Wales

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Contents

Foreword
Abbreviations
Definition of Terms
Executive Summary

1. Introduction

1.1 Study Objectives
1.2 Contract Details

2. Background to the Project

2.1 Access to Open Countryside
2.2 The Consultation Paper
2.3 The Appraisal Process

3. Methodology

3.1 Introduction
3.2 Consultations
3.3 Data Sources
3.4 Area Affected
3.5 Assessment of Effects
3.6 Assessment of Benefits and Costs
3.7 Caveats

4. Development of Options

4.1 Introduction
4.2 Baseline Situation
4.3 Option A - Incentive led Voluntary
4.4 Option B - Compulsory Using Access Enforcement Orders
4.5 Option A and B - Largely Voluntary But With Compulsion as a Fallback
4.6 Option C - Compulsory Using New Legislation With Permitted Restrictions
4.7 Other Factors

5. Areas of New Access Provision

5.1 Introduction
5.2 Area of Land Within The Definition of Open Countryside
5.3 Current Access Situation
5.4 Differentiation Between Uplands and Lowlands

6. Assumptions Regarding Patterns of Access Use

6.1 Introduction
6.2 Use of New Access Areas
6.3 Experience of New Access Creation
6.4 Areas of Potential New Access by Type of Site
6.5 Pattern of Usage Within Areas of Open Countryside
6.6 Implications for the Analysis

7. Assessment of Effects on Landowners and Occupiers

7.1 Introduction
7.2 Enterprises Affected
7.3 Nature of Costs
7.4 Assessment of Effects

8. Assessment of Effects on Access Users and the Local Economy

8.1 Introduction
8.2 Results of the Review of User Benefits
8.3 Conversion to Aggregate Benefits per Unit Area
8.4 Benefits to the Local Economy

9. Assessment of Effects on the Environment

9.1 Introduction
9.2 Identification of Effects and Their Significance
9.3 Extent of the Potential Effects

10. Assessment of Effects on Public Sector Bodies

10.1 Introduction
10.2 Local and National Park Authorities
10.3 Countryside Council for Wales and Countryside Commission
10.4 Conservation Agencies
10.5 Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food/Welsh Office
10.6 Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions
10.7 Other Public Bodies

11. Economic Appraisal of Option A

11.1 Introduction
11.2 Estimate of Area of New Access Created
11.3 Assessment of Benefits
11.4 Assessment of Costs
11.5 Assessment of Benefits and Costs
11.6 Effects on Land to Which Access Already Exists

12. Economic Appraisal of Option B

12.1 Introduction
12.2 Estimate of Area of New Access Created
12.3 Assessment of Benefits
12.4 Assessment of Costs
12.5 Assessment of Benefits and Costs
12.6 Effects on Land Other Than Non-Access Open Countryside

13. Economic Appraisal of Option A + B

13.1 Introduction
13.2 Assessment of Benefits
13.3 Assessment of Costs
13.4 Summary of Benefits
13.5 Summary of Costs
13.6 Unquantified Benefits and Costs
13.7 Benefits and Costs per Landholding

14. Economic Appraisal of Option C

14.1 Introduction
14.2 Assessment of Area Affected
14.3 Assessment of Benefits
14.4 Assessment of Costs
14.5 Assessment of Benefits and Cost
14.6 Effects on Land Other Than Open Countryside to Which Access is Currently Denied

15. Comparison of Benefits and Costs

15.1 Introduction
15.2 NPVs and Benefit Cost Ratios

Appendices:

1: Terms of Reference
2.1: Members of Steering Group
2.2: Membership of Sounding Board
3: Bibliography
4: Access Consumption - Baseline Situation
5: Assessment of Areas of Open Countryside to Which Access Exists
6: Effects on Landowners and Occupiers
7: Assessment of Effects on Access Users and the Local Economies
8: Assessment of Effects on the Environment
9: Assessment of Effects on Public Sector Bodies

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Published 8 March 1999

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Access to the Open Countryside in England and Wales - Consultation Paper

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