Contained in the final report of the Glover Review of Designated Landscapes was the recommendation that AONBs should be strengthened with new purposes, powers and resources, and renamed as National Landscapes.
The intention behind the proposed rebranding was to reflect ‘their national importance; the vital contribution they make to protect the nation from the threats of climate change, nature depletion and the wellbeing crisis, whilst also creating greater understanding and awareness for the work that they do.’
We are told ‘the title National Landscape does not remove or replace the legal definition of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in law… it is a simpler name without a complicated initialism.’
Yet it is far from certain that the new name accurately reflects and articulates why AONBs matter.
As a descriptor ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ is self-explanatory – ‘it does exactly what it says on the tin’. ‘National Landscape’, conversely, does not. Our industrial, urban and rural landscapes collectively comprise the UK’s ‘National Landscape’. And clearly not all can be considered areas of natural beauty.
When published in September 2019, included amongst its recommendations, the Glover Review also proposed that AONBs should become statutory consultees for planning purposes. In the public consultation that followed there was strong support for this proposal. Of the 7,241 respondents to this question, 57% were in agreement, 20% disagreed and 23% were unsure.
Perhaps more pertinently, Local authority and other public body respondents were even more strongly in support, with over 74% being in favour.
The Government has now finally published its response to the Review.
Regrettably they say that while:
We agree National Landscapes teams should have a strong voice in the plan-making process, however, given their legal status we will not be giving National Landscapes Partnerships statutory consultee status at this time. We will continue to work across government, and with key stakeholders, to understand the implications. Government is committed to reforming the planning system, to give local communities more control over what is built where, creating a positive incentive to welcome development provided it meets the standards set. We will engage with National Landscapes teams to explore how they might support LPAs during the production of design codes and better contribute to local plan making.
Some might argue that by refusing to implement the Review’s recommendation that AONBs should becomes statutory consultees the Government have made it harder for them to oppose inappropriate development and to fulfil their duty as defined in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act that each “must seek to further the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty” of the AONB.
Instead the Government have decided the ‘key work streams’ for AONBs, National Parks and National Trails are now:
• Nature recovery coordination
• Nature based solutions - green finance and investment
• Art in the Landscape
• Evidence and data
• Carbon baselining
• Coastal Wildbelt
• Equity, diversity and inclusion training and resources
• Accessology
Involvement in the planning process is nowhere to be seen.
Taken together, the rebranding and key work streams might leave you wondering whether ensuring South Devon is protected as an area of outstanding natural beauty remains as important as it once was.
