This page addresses some of the most common factual questions that have been asked during the public consultation.

You can obtain this information as a document from the Downloads page of this website.

Please also refer to the Consultation section of this website, which addresses many other issues.

Natural England and National Park Authorities

Natural England is a government agency with special responsibilities for creating National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and reviewing their boundaries. Natural England also has other responsibilities for the natural environment, including administering agri-environment schemes. You can find out more about the work of Natural England on www.naturalengland.org.uk National Park Authorities are independent of Natural England. There is a separate National Park Authority for each National Park in England. They are a type of local authority and undertake the local authority’s planning and access functions. They have additional roles in relation to the conservation, understanding and enjoyment and socio-economic well being of the National Park area.

What do National Park Authorities do?

A National Park Authority has two purposes:

• to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Park;
• to promote the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the area; and a duty to seek to foster the socio-economic well being of communities in the National Park.

National Park Authorities:

• publish a National Park Management Plan with others for the National Park area. This includes a ‘vision’ for the area with clear aims and objectives to measure progress.
• give advice and support to landowners, farmers, and others who look after and manage the area.
• give advice and grants to business and communities through its sustainable development fund.
• provide a ranger service to liaise with land managers and users to manage sites, open-access land and to maintain rights of way on behalf of the county council,
• promote better understanding of the area’s special qualities and help people enjoy the area responsibly through various media (e.g. websites, leaflets, and on-site support).
• work in partnership with local authorities, public bodies and interest groups and local communities to deliver its aims on issues such as affordable housing, and promoting sustainable tourism.

Will an area become part of Yorkshire if it becomes part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park?

No. County boundaries are not being changed. Many National Parks cross county boundaries (the Yorkshire Dales National Park already includes a part of Cumbria).

Is Natural England proposing to change the name of the Yorkshire Dales National Park?

No. We are not proposing to change the name of the National Park; however, if you have a view about the name, should the Yorkshire Dales National Park be extended further into Cumbria and/or Lancashire, please let us know. It is up to the Secretary of State to determine the names of National Park Authorities.

Who will deliver planning, rights of way and other local authority services?

National Park Authorities are the sole planning authority for their area (setting criteria for development and making decisions on individual planning applications based on national and regional guidance and local community views). They also have a range of other related functions (e.g. tree preservation orders, conservation areas etc). The Lake District National Park Authority and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority also carry out rights of way management on behalf of the County Councils.

District and County Councils will continue to perform all other functions of local authorities for residents within National Parks, as they do outside of National Parks (such as education, highway maintenance, public transport provision and waste collection).

What about local democracy?

Usually a National Park Authority comprises 22 members. Twelve of these are County or District Councillors from each of the local authorities with land in the National Park. Four members are Parish Councillors (selected by the appropriate Association of Local Councils). Six members are nominated by the Secretary of State to represent the national interest, and Version 2 as at 24/2/10 Page 2 of 2 are selected because they bring special experience such as business, work with young people, rural economy etc. People will continue to be able to vote for and be represented by local councillors on County, District and Parish Councils as before.

Who pays for National Parks?

National Park Authorities are funded entirely by a central government grant. They also raise additional income (e.g. grants from the rural development authorities and the lottery). National Park Authorities are not funded from local council tax, which continues to be raised in the normal way.

Will there be new restrictions on how land is farmed?

No. Rules relating to environmental regulations (e.g. pollution control & waste permits), protected areas (e.g. Sites of Special Scientific Interest & Special Areas of Conservation) and agricultural payments are the same inside and outside National Parks. National Park Authorities do not make rules about how land should be farmed.

How does designation affect agricultural payment schemes and current agreements?

Our proposals have no impact on the Single Farm Payment or on Cross Compliance. If you are in an environmental scheme (such as Countryside Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship, Woodland Grant Scheme etc.) this will continue as normal. If you are interested in entering a scheme, both National Park Authorities provide services to give advice to farmers, land managers and foresters to take best advantage of the available grants for environmental schemes. Natural England generally targets its Higher Level schemes at areas with special environmental requirements, including special landscapes such as those found in National Parks. Entry into all these grant schemes is voluntary.

Will there be changes to the planning system?

The National Park Authority (NPA) would become the planning authority responsible for development control and the Local Development Framework. For proposed National Park extensions, the current planning authorities (South Lakeland District Council, Eden District Council and Lancaster City Council) would cease to make decisions about planning applications, although the National Park Authority may consult them on applications near to the boundary.

Current national policy applies a ‘public interest’ threshold to major developments (e.g. power stations) in National Parks. In a few cases development will need planning permission that previously didn’t, however there are already many limits on these ‘permitted development rights’ in most of the proposed extensions. Each planning authority creates a Local Development Framework – the process is the same inside and outside National Parks. The specific policies vary between planning authorities.

What about land ownership?

National Parks are not owned by the state. Ownership of land remains unchanged by the designation of land as National Park.

Will people be able to walk, ride, cycle or camp anywhere?

No. There are no automatic changes to access rights above what is already in existence (see www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/enjoying)

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