In November 2023, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) were renamed National Landscapes. This followed a recommendation from an independent review of protected landscapes commissioned by the Government in 2019 (the Landscape/Glover Review) that concluded AONBs should be rebranded and strengthened with new purposes, powers and resources to bring them in line with the National Parks. 

The new name reflects their national importance, and also a recognition that their contribution goes well beyond their natural beauty. These areas are now also recognised for their contribution to adaption to climate change, storing carbon to mitigate the effects of climate change, safeguarding against drought and flooding, restoring depleted wildlife and nurturing health and wellbeing by encouraging more people outside. At the same time, these landscapes continue to support local communities, produce food and enhance historic environments. 

What is a National Landscape?

There are 46 National Landscapes, covering 14 per cent of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each National Landscape has a small National Landscape team of staff, and their work is governed by a joint advisory committee or executive board representing local authorities, parish councils, landowners and partner organisations. The natural beauty of these areas is the sum of its sense of place. National Landscapes teams aim to help residents and visitors celebrate the local distinctiveness of these special places.  

National Landscapes are varied in character and include farmland, woodland, moorland and coasts. Two thirds of England’s population (44 million people) live within 30 minutes of a National Landscape and at least 170 million people visit them every year.

What are the implications of the designation?

In planning terms, the purposes and powers of AONBs have not changed. Legally they are still designated as AONBs and along with National Parks, National Landscapes have the highest status of planning protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty. The purpose of a National Landscape is to protect and enhance the natural beauty of the area, with particular reference to its specific management plan, which is reviewed every five years. 

Beyond their retained planning status, the Government has set out new aims for the National Landscapes, which it seeks to achieve by 2030. These are:

• 100,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat will be created or restored (approximately nine times the size of Manchester). This will not include Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) which are already recognised for their wildlife or geological importance.
• Restoring at least 200,000 hectares of land within SSSIs to a 'favourable condition' (an area greater than the size of London).
• Planting/regenerating 36,000 hectares of woodland (an area just smaller than the Isle of Wight).

National Landscapes Partnerships will also focus on habitat restoration to ensure the protection of endangered species and increase their work to help more people spend time accessing the landscapes.

In December 2023 the Government showed a further commitment to National Landscapes by placing a strengthened duty on relevant authorities to ‘seek to further’ their purposes of conserving and enhancing natural beauty. This overrides and strengthens its previous duty to ‘have regard’ to this purpose. According to the National Landscapes Association this new duty has great potential to catalyse organisations to work together to protect and improve the National Landscapes, so they can play a significant role in delivering the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23). 

Further information

Contact Ruth Bishop