



Some of England’s most beautiful landscapes are threatened by inappropriate development because planning rules are not being followed properly, the National Trust has claimed.

Local planners are not always applying the law correctly when considering applications for development in the country’s 34 areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), the organisation said in a report published on Thursday.

Drawn up with the help of independent consultants, the report flags up concerns about developments ranging from housing on the edge of the Georgian city of Bath to chicken farms in Shropshire and solar arrays in Dorset, the landscape immortalised by Thomas Hardy.

The National Trust accepts the need to build more houses and says it supports development in line with locally-agreed plans. It adds: “AONBs are living and working landscapes” but insists that “local needs” can be met through “high quality development in appropriate locations.”

The report says the government has “a clear commitment to protect AONBs” which were originally established under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

It accepts that existing legislation and policy contain “strong protections” but argues that on the local level they are not always being followed properly, especially in areas where councils have little free land for building houses or commercial premises.

The report calls for a ministerial statement on the issue and suggests a series of test for planners to apply when looking at a development in an AONB.

Ingrid Samuel, National Trust historic environment director, said: “We have good policy in place to protect our wonderful AONBs, some of the most special and loved places in England. But our research suggests there can be a gap between policy and practice – and that’s something that needs addressing.

“AONBs are under strain from increasing development pressure, and local councils are between a rock and a hard place as their resources shrink. Reductions of 40% to planning and development management teams over the last five years will not help planning authorities to ensure quality development happens in the most suitable locations.”

Richard Blyth, head of policy at the Royal Town Planning Institute, expressed concern about more tests for planners being introduced, arguing that generally the protection offered by AONB status worked well.

He suggested that areas with little land to develop because they were within AONBs should try to work with neighbouring authorities to find suitable building plots.

A government spokesman said: “We welcome the National Trust’s recognition of the strong protection we have set out for areas of outstanding natural beauty and other protected areas.

“Local authorities should ensure they play their part in protecting these valued areas.”