UK Designations and Responsible Authorities

3A1 p2c questions

The table below provides you with a quick summary of all the UK designations and the respectively responsible departments/organisations.

Designation Abrv. Level Description Authority Legislation
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty AONB National An outstanding landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are so precious that it is in the nation’s interest to safeguard them. Natural England

National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949,

Environment Act 1995,

Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000

Ancient Woodland National A woodland that has existed continuously since 1600 or before in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (or 1750 in Scotland).

Natural England,

Forestry Commission

Town and Country Planning Act 1990
Biosphere Reserve International Designated under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme. UNESCO
Community Forest National Each Community Forest is a partnership between LPAs and local, regional and national partners including the Forestry Commission and Natural England. The founding basis for each Forest is a government-approved Forest Plan, a 30-year vision of landscape-scale improvement.

Natural England,

Forestry Commission

National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (section 21),

Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (Schedule 11)

Conservation Area National They are designated for their special architectural and historic interest. Conservation areas are not intended to prevent development altogether. They ensure that development is monitored and controlled to ensure that proposals within or adjacent to the conservation area are sympathetic to the character and appearance of their surroundings. Historic England Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
Environmentally Sensitive Area ESA A type of designation for an agricultural area which needs special protection because of its landscape, wildlife or historical value. DEFRA
Global Geopark International Part of the Global Geopark Network supported by UNESCO. UNESCO

Green Belt

Local Green belt land refers to an area that is kept in reserve for an open space, most often around larger cities. The main purpose of the green belt policy is to protect the land around larger urban centres from urban sprawl, and maintain the designated area for forestry and agriculture as well as to provide habitat to wildlife. LPAs

Town and Country Planning Act 1947,

Planning Policy Guidance Note 2: Green Belts

Historic Battlefield (Registered Battlefield) National Battlefield sites in England are material considerations in the planning process Historic England Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953
Heritage Coast National Areas of coastline managed to conserve and enhance their natural beauty, facilitate appreciation by the public, and maintain and improve their environmental health. Natural England

National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949,

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000

Listed Building National

It’s one that has been placed on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.

Grades:

  • I = buildings of exceptional interest.
  • II* = particularly important buildings of more than special interest.
  • II = buildings that are of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them
Historic England Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
Local Nature Reserve LNR Local Areas of special local wildlife or geological interest. Natural England National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (section 21)
Marine Protected Area MPA National Marine protected areas include Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for habitats of European importance, Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds, Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) and Marine Nature Reserves designated to conserve marine flora and fauna and features of special interest.

JNCC,

Natural England (only supports)

Moorland National A moorland or moor is a type of habitat found in upland areas in temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands and montane grasslands and shrublands biomes, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils. The Wildlife Trusts
National Nature Reserve NNR National Areas for the preservation of flora, fauna, geological and physiological features of special interest.

Natural England,

National Trust,

Forestry Commission,

RSPB,

Wildlife Trusts,

LPAs

National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (sections 16 to 29)

National Park

National Designated to conserve and enhance their natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage and the open air recreation they facilitate.Villages, towns and farms within the boundary of National Parks are also protected.

National Park Authorities,

Natural England

National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949,

The Environment Act 1995,

Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000

National Trail National Long distance routes along footpaths and bridle paths in England and Wales used for walking, cycling and horse riding. National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949
Protected Wreck Site National These protected areas are likely to contain the remains of a vessel, or its contents, which are of historical, artistic or archaeological importance. Historic England
Public Right Of Way PROW National A Public Right Of Way is a way, which the public have a right to pass and re-pass providing that the public stay on the route and do not cause a nuisance or obstruction. Natural England
Ramsar site International An international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands. Took its name from the city the convention took place in Iran. Natural England Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981
RSPB Reserve National From marshes and heathland to estuaries and cliffs, there is a diverse network of reserves all over the UK. RSPB

Site of Biological Importance

SBI National One of the non-statutory designations used locally by the Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Staffordshire County Councils in England to protect locally valued sites of biological diversity which are described generally as Local Wildlife Sites by the UK Government. Wildlife Trusts No legal protection, only through some LPA policies
Site of Special Scientific Interest SSSI National

Important sites of natural habitat, wildlife and geological heritage, including:

  • Ancient woodlands
  • Species rich grasslands
  • Heathlands
  • Coastal marshes and mudflats
  • Unique geological formations.
Natural England Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981
Scheduled Monument National A nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change. Historic England Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979
Special Area of Conservation SAC International Designated under the European Union’s Habitats Directive to be of value for species, plants and habitats. They comprise marine and terrestrial SACs.

Natural England,

JNCC

EC Habitats Directive (Article 3)
Special Protection Area SPA International

Designated under the Birds Directive to protect internationally valuable populations of bird species.

They comprise inshore marine SPAs and terrestrial SPAs.

Natural England,

JNCC

EC Birds Directive (Article 4)
UK Biodiversity Action Plan UKBAP International Describes the biological resources of the UK and provides detailed plans for conservation of these resources. JNCC
World Heritage Site WHS International Sites with internationally important cultural or national heritage.In order to qualify, it must be of outstanding universal cultural or natural value (or both). The age of a site is irrelevant. UNESCO UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework

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