Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to authorise the creation of a small number of new designations of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty as part of the Government's 25 year Environment Plan; and if he will make a statement.
The statutory responsibility in England to appraise the designation of new or extended National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty is held with Natural England.
In his Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution the Prime Minister announced that this Government will start the process this year for designating more of England’s beautiful and iconic landscapes as National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, safeguarding these areas for future generations and bringing more people within closer reach of nature.
These new Protected Landscapes will play a key role in meeting the Government’s commitment to protect and improve 30% of UK land by 2030.