South Downs National Park
CNP is a member of the South Downs Campaign that works towards the area being designated as a National Park. This campaign brings together a wide variety of local, regional and national organisations
Some instrumental research on the case for the South Downs was published in 2001 and The South Downs National Park, Opportunities for Enhancement report has helped demonstrate why the South Downs need extra special protection of a National Park. You can view the report by clicking here
The work of both CNP and the South Downs campaign is generously supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Background Information
The South Downs is widely regarded as 'unfinished business' from the original National Park proposals which were outlined in the instrumental Hobhouse report of 1947, which formed the basis of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and the system of National Parks in England and Wales as seen today.
Not one of our existing National Parks encompasses chalk downland, one of the most quintessential and iconic of English landscapes. With its white cliffs, rolling hills, tranquil woodland and lowland wealden valleys the South Downs provides inspiration and respite to residents and visitors alike.
Since April 2000 the Countryside Agency (now Natural England) the statutory body responsible for designating new National Parks, has been taking forward the designation process for a South Downs National Park. The core area of the suggested National Park encompasses two existing Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: East Hampshire and the Sussex Downs, along with surrounding areas of beautiful countryside and settlements.
There has been a public inquiry which allowed discussions on boundary and administrative arrangements. Unfortunately the decision by the High Court to exclude the Hinton Estate from the New Forest National Park due to its 'limited naturalness', caused legal uncertainty and the designation timetable for the South Downs was put on hold. Fortunately, the 2006 Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act has, in part, addressed this, clarifying 'Natural Beauty' to include landscapes influenced by man. The government appealed against the High Court decision and now that the judgement has been made, the designation process can recommence.
The government has published a further consultation on the designation of the South Downs as a National Park, including the report of the independent inspector at the public inquiry which ran from November 2003 to March 2005. The inspector has recommended that the South Downs National Park should be confirmed and that an additional 25km2 should be included within the boundary but the Northern boundary changed to exclude a large area of the Western Weald as well as settlements such as Lewes and Arundel. CNP believes that the exclusion is not justified and has objected to the alternative boundary. The South Downs Campaign's response to the consultation can be found here
In February 2008 the public inquiry reopened and the inspector permitted new evidence on the inclusion of the Western Weald within the National Park boundary to be heard. The SDC presented its evidence, and the inquiry is due to finish at the end of May. Early indications show that a final decision will be made by January 2009.
See CNP's South Downs briefing paper for further information