Somerset’s protected rural landscapes have been given a new name, but without additional powers or extra funding to safeguard them from future development. Comprising four areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs) - the Blackdown Hills, Cranborne Chase, the Mendip Hills, and the Quantock Hills - these regions continue to face the threat of unwanted development despite their rebranding as “national landscapes.”
The government’s recent announcement to rebrand all AONBs as ‘national landscapes’ aims to acknowledge their critical role in promoting health, well-being, and combatting climate change. However, Somerset Council has clarified that these newly-named organizations will not be equipped with any extra powers to prevent undesired development, nor will they receive additional funding from central or local government to fulfill their legal duties.
Established under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, AONBs are considered guardians of the nation’s nature and well-being, akin to the NHS. The Quantock Hills became the UK’s inaugural AONB in 1956, extending from the west Somerset coast at Watchet to the outskirts of Taunton, while the Mendip Hills followed suit in 1972, bordered by Weston-super-Mare, Wells, Cheddar, Midsomer Norton, and Langford.
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Notably, despite the name change and rebranding, no additional powers have been granted to prevent further housing developments, signaling ongoing challenges for these national landscapes. The Mendip Hills and the Quantocks, in particular, have faced mounting pressure due to expanding towns and villages accommodating the Hinkley Point C workforce, with new housing developments and expanded camp-sites encroaching upon these areas.
Furthermore, the name change does not translate to increased influence in Somerset’s new Local Plan, slated for completion by early-2028. While national landscapes largely rely on central government funding, local authorities often contribute financially to these conservation efforts. Even in light of a projected £100m budget deficit for the 2024/25 financial year, Somerset Council assured that contributions to the national landscapes would be upheld.
Though Somerset’s new national landscapes will continue to tackle challenges such as ash dieback and habitat restoration, their mission remains focused on reaffirming the significance of these landscapes on a national scale and bolstering existing legislation to ensure their protection.