There is a general statutory duty on all public bodies, statutory undertakers (such as water and electricity companies) and holders of public office to have regard to the purposes of National Parks when carrying out any work or making any decisions which affect land in National Parks. Defra has published guidance³ on how public bodies should exercise this duty, which highlights that the duty applies to all decisions (not just those that might narrowly be seen as ‘countryside’ issues), that the duty can apply outside National Parks in certain cases and that compliance with the duty should be capable of being demonstrated.

Borrowdale from Whinfell Common © Natural England & Simon Warner

References

³ http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/documents/protected/npaonb-duties-guide.pdf
Duties on relevant authorities to have regard to the purposes of National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Guidance note, Defra 2005