The National Park: Designation and functions
When was the National Park created?
It was created on 1 March 2005 when the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed the Designation Order.
Why was it felt necessary to make the New Forest a National Park?
The New Forest has long been recognised as a special and important area that needs protection. With increasing pressures in the south and south-east, particularly from housing development and transport, it was felt that National Park designation would bring greater protection on a permanent basis, ensuring future generations have the opportunity to understand and enjoy the special qualities of the New Forest.
Details on the designation process are available on Defra’s website.
What is the purpose of the National Park Authority?
The New Forest National Park Authority is the organisation responsible for delivering the two purposes of National Park designation
- to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Park; and
- to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the Park's special qualities by the public.
In pursuing these purposes, the Authority must seek to foster the social and economic well-being of local communities within the Park.
The Authority is set up in law, by a statutory instrument that gave it limited powers from 1 April 2005 and its full statutory functions from 1 April 2006. It is a free-standing organisation operating within the local government framework.
Will the National Park Authority affect the roles of other statutory bodies operating in the New Forest, such as the Forestry Commission, the Verderers and the Lymington Harbour Commissioners?
No. The creation of a National Park does not affect the powers of these bodies, although they have a new statutory duty to take account of the purposes of National Park designation when making any decision which affects the Park (under section 62 of the Environment Act 1995).
The Secretary of State issued guidance to the National Park Authority which emphasises strongly the need for the Authority to develop good working relationships with existing statutory bodies and, in particular, with the Forestry Commission, the Verderers and the Lymington Harbour Commissioners.
Can we see the guidance that Ministers gave the National Park Authority?
It is available on Defra’s website
What about the New Forest Committee?
The New Forest Committee met for the last time on 1 March 2005 and has now disbanded. The National Park Authority is building on the Committee’s success in:
- creating a culture of partnership and working together amongst the statutory bodies
- ensuring the involvement of local communities and Forest interests in the decision-making process.
What about the New Forest Consultative Panel?
This group (which represents more than 80 organisations and meets in public every two months) is continuing as a major consultative forum, enabling the National Park Authority and other statutory bodies to hear the views of a wide range of Forest interests.
What difference will the National Park Authority make?
It means there will be a stronger, permanent organisation dedicated to and responsible for helping protect, conserve and enhance the environment and culture of the New Forest for future generations, as well as promoting the Forest’s special qualities. The extra resources available will allow faster policy development and more effective implementation.
The Authority will work to ensure that the two purposes of the designation are complementary and that the National Park is sustainably managed for today and future generations.
Isn’t the National Park Authority just another layer of bureaucracy?
No. The Authority is the sole local planning authority within the Park boundary and a champion for the Park as a whole. It replaces existing planning structures within the Park boundary and will complement and add value to the work of other organisations in the National Park rather than duplicate it.
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