How are the boundaries of areas to be designated decided?

A detailed boundary is drawn for each proposed extension to a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). We develop proposed boundaries using the set of principles outlined below.

  • Transitional landscapes: The quality and character of landscapes often change very gradually over a sweep of country. We call these ‘areas of transition’. The boundary should be an obvious feature, located towards the higher quality end of transition areas.
  • Clear features: The boundary should be easy to identify on the ground.
  • Administrative boundaries: Administrative boundaries (such as county or parish boundaries) are often unsuitable because they are hard to see on the ground or do not correspond with the quality of the landscape.
  • Towns and villages: Towns and villages at the edge should only be included if they are within, and part of a sweep of qualifying landscape.
  • Splitting of settlements: A boundary should not split a settlement where it can be avoided. Towns and villages should be either fully in or fully outside a National Park or AONB.
  • Unsightly development: Unsightly development at the edge of the Evaluation Area should be excluded.
  • Development: Land that has approval for major built development or mining should be excluded from the edge unless the negative impact of the development is minimal.
  • Features of interest: Where there are areas or features of scientific, historic, cultural or architectural value in a qualifying area at the edge they should generally be included.

Some areas of land in a National Park or AONB do not meet the designation criteria. These areas can be included (“washed-over”) if they are part of a wider landscape that does meet the designaton criteria. If the washed-over area is large, special attention needs to be given to whether including it can be justified.