English National Parks are big money-spinners: £660 million visitor spend in Yorkshire and Humber and a positive impact on most Park businesses
11 December 2006
New research shows that National Parks are not just wonderful places to visit: they bring prosperity for businesses in and around them and for the regions in which they are found.
Commissioned by the Council for National Parks (1), a major research (2) project has looked at the economic impact of the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and Peak District National Parks on Yorkshire and Humber, the English region with the highest proportion of its land designated as National Park (3).
The project estimated the main financial benefits to the region as:
. sales by businesses in the Parks worth £1.8 billion annually, supporting over 34,000 jobs
. spend by Park visitors of £400 million annually within the Parks themselves and a further £260 million elsewhere in the Yorkshire and Humber region, supporting about 12,000 jobs. With 'knock on' effects, the total impact of this £660 million expenditure on the region's output is likely to be almost £1 billion
The project surveyed over 400 businesses in the Parks, towns around them and, for comparison, the Yorkshire Wolds (4). It found:
. 69% of businesses in the National Parks believe high landscape quality has a positive impact on their business performance
. 26% of businesses think a deterioration in landscape quality would seriously affect their business
. over half of the Parks' businesses feel that the National Park designation has had a positive impact on their enterprise
The project found economic benefits came not just from the Parks' environmental qualities but also from the National Park designation. This attracted visitors and businesses, and prompted action by National Park Authorities and other organisations in the public and private sector. The three National Park Authorities spent £16.2 million (5) in Yorkshire and Humber in 2005/6, of which £11.1 million was National Park Grant from Government. The Authorities employ 285 Full-Time Equivalent staff in the region. The Authorities' expenditure is estimated to support a further 102 jobs indirectly, 57 of them in the Yorkshire and Humber region. The project examined examples of their work.
Launching the report (6) of the project in Harrogate today, Barry Dodd, Yorkshire Forward board member for business and innovation said:
"Yorkshire Forward's Regional Economic Strategy recognises the importance of high-quality environments in attracting employees, businesses and visitors. It sees a key role for National Park Authorities in promoting sustainable economic development in rural areas. This study confirms the importance of our three beautiful National Parks for the prosperity of the region as a whole. Yorkshire Forward are pleased to have been partners in this project. We will look closely at the report's recommendations to see how everybody can best work together to ensure these exceptional natural assets maximise their potential for the region."
Welcoming the report, Landscape Minister Barry Gardiner, said:
"This report should re-assure those who have suggested that the enormous pleasure our National Parks have given so many people has been at the expense of businesses within them. It shows that, on the contrary, National Parks help businesses to prosper, locally and regionally. This study has examined only part of the economic worth of the Parks and we will, as it recommends, look further at how the total value - social, environmental and economic - of such special places can be measured."
Sir Martin Doughty, Natural England's Chair, said:
"National Parks are designated to safeguard natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage and to help people understand and enjoy these special places. This report shows that a healthy natural environment and sustainable development go hand in hand. The inspirational landscapes and outdoor recreation opportunities provided by our National Parks can truly benefit the people who live and work in them."
Ruth Chambers, Head of Policy at the Council for National Parks, said:
"The Council for National Parks hopes that this study will help to achieve a greater understanding of the subtleties and interaction that the National Parks have with their local economies. It has demonstrated that many of the small businesses in the Parks have come to rely and thrive on the high quality environment which results from National Park designation, reinforcing the need for National Parks to continue to be strongly protected and adequately funded."
Notes to Editors
1. The Council for National Parks is the national charity which works to promote and protect National Parks in England and Wales. To mark its 70th anniversary, CNP undertook this Prosperity and Protection research project with financial support and/or advice from Yorkshire Forward, the three National Park Authorities, Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Natural England, the New Economics Foundation, the Nationwide Building Society, the Ramblers' Association and the J Paul Getty Jr Charitable Trust.
2. The economic research was undertaken by SQW consultants. As well as analysing information from business and visitor surveys, they mapped the socio-economic characteristics of the Parks from census data. CNP staff undertook a literature review and the three National Park Authorities provided case studies of their work.
3. There are 12 National Parks in England and Wales, covering some of the countries' most spectacular and iconic landscapes. Each has a National Park Authority to deliver the twin statutory purposes of National Parks:
. to conserve and enhance their natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage; and
. to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of their special qualities by the public.
In carrying out these purposes, the Authority has a duty to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities. In England, members of National Park Authorities are local authority councillors, local parish representatives and people with specialist skills or knowledge of National Park issues.
4. The Yorkshire Wolds is a very attractive but undesignated area.
5. These figures include only 15% of the Peak District's expenditure and National Park Grant as only that proportion of the Park is in Yorkshire and Humber.
6. A four-page summary of the report's findings and the full report may be found on CNP's web-site at www.cnp.org.uk
7. Research published in October showed that the three Welsh National Parks also make a significant economic contribution. The report Valuing the National Parks of Wales may be found on www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walespolicy
8. The launch is at 10.30am on Monday 11th December at the Pavilions, the Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, followed by a press conference. To attend and for further information or interviews, contact:
Susan Carter, Council for National Parks project manager (tel 0117 924 7872; e-mail Susan Carter or
Amy Peters at the Council for National Parks office (tel 020 7924 4077 ext. 230; e-mail Amy Peters
For press queries please contact:
Ruth Chambers, Head of Policy on
020 7924 4077 ext. 222