Is it desirable to designate?

Near Ravenstonedale © Natural England & Simon Warner Near Ravenstonedale © Natural England & Simon Warner

The ability of an area to meet the natural beauty and recreation criteria for designation determines to a large degree which designation it is to be considered for, as follows:

Area
meets the criteria for…		 Area
qualifies for...
Natural
Beauty		 Open-air recreation National Park, AONB or neither?
Yes Yes National Park or AONB
Yes No AONB only
No Yes or No Not suitable for designation

However, Natural England must also decide whether it is desirable to designate an area which meets the criteria for designation, as a National Park, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) or not at all. For example, land may meet both the natural beauty and recreation criteria but Natural England may decide that it is especially desirable to designate the land as AONB instead, or not to designate it at all.

To establish whether it is desirable to designate an area as a National Park or AONB, Natural England asks the five questions below.

  1. Are the technical criteria for natural beauty and/ or recreation opportunity met?
  2. Is the area of such national significance that National Park (or AONB) purposes should apply to it?
  3. What are the issues affecting the area’s special qualities and understanding and enjoyment?
  4. Can National Park (or AONB) purposes be best pursued through the mechanisms, powers and duties which come with National Park (or AONB) designation?
  5. Are there other relevant factors which tend to suggest whether it is or is not especially desirable to designate the area?

Having considered these questions and relevant evidence, it is for Natural England to decide whether or not a particular area is of such national significance that it should be designated and managed for National Park or AONB purposes, ie. whether:

  • its natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage should be conserved and enhanced; and
  • the understanding and enjoyment of its special qualities should be promoted.

Please refer to the Supporting Documents if you would like further detailed information about the desirability assessment (the Supporting Documents are available from the Downloads page on this website).