Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of Place and Economy on the adoption of the Blackdown Hills National Landscape Management Plan.

Cabinet had before it a report * from the Director of Place and Economy on the Adoption of the Blackdown Hills National Landscape Management Plan.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic and Regeneration outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following: 

·         Part of Mid Devon district was situated within the area covered by the Blackdown Hills National Landscape (formerly known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

·         The Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000 required that the Council, together with other relevant local authorities, produced a Management Plan for the Blackdown Hills National Landscape and reviewed it at intervals of no more than five years. The Blackdown Hills National Landscape Partnership had performed this duty on behalf of this Council and the other relevant local authorities, which included Somerset Council and East Devon District Council.

·         The Management Plan blended national and local priorities and sought to address them in a way that was right for the Blackdown Hills – the landscape, environment, and communities to ensure the very special character of the area was conserved and enhanced for future generations.

·         It included a vision, sets out four main themes, each with objectives, guiding principles, policies, targets and priority actions.

·         A draft management plan was previously reported to the Planning Policy Advisory Group on 22 July 2024 and the Cabinet on 15 October 2024 (Minute 70) and was subject to an 8 week public consultation from January to March this year.

·         Following the public consultation an amended draft of the Management Plan was reported to the Planning, Environment and Sustainability Policy Development Group (PDG) meeting on the 10June 2025, which endorsed the recommendations in this report.

·         Approval was being sought for this draft version as the Chair Foreword, National Landscape Partnership Commendation and pictures were to be added to the final version.  Those additions had no material significance to the substance of the document.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The Blackdown Hills National Landscape Management Plan (Appendices 1, 2 and 3) be ADOPTED.

2.    Delegated authority be given to the Director of Place and Economy in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration to approve any editorial changes made to the Blackdown Hills National Landscape Management Plan.

(Proposed by Cllr S Keable and seconded by Cllr G DuChesne)

Reason for Decision:

There were no direct financial implications from the public consultation and the adoption of the Blackdown Hills National Landscape Management Plan. The Council made a grant funding contribution each year to the host authority, Devon County Council, to support the Blackdown Hills National Landscape Partnership.

Note: *Report previously circulated