Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
October 2023
Woodham Walter Parish Council are currently looking into joining with Little Baddow and Danbury in an application for an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We are investigating the pros and cons and seeking local opinion. Please see the leaflet above and then click on the following link to answer the consultation electronically https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiyh-RTxA5SbvXWFua5At-eIBfaTHdDc_MJe_GuSluvgp1oA/viewform?usp=pp_url
An area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) is land protected by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act). It protects the land to conserve and enhance its natural beauty.
Under the CROW Act, Natural England can make orders to designate AONBs or vary the boundaries of existing ones
Before Natural England proposes an area becomes an AONB, it must meet the ‘natural beauty criterion’. This could be a combination of factors, such as:
- landscape quality, where natural or man-made landscape is good quality
- scenic quality, such as striking coastal landforms
- relative wildness, such as distance from housing or having few roads
- relative tranquillity, where natural sounds, such as streams or birdsong are predominant
- natural heritage features, such as distinctive geology or species and habitat
- cultural heritage, which can include the built environment that makes the area unique, such as archaeological remains or historic parkland
External Links to useful information
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/areas-of-outstanding-natural-beauty-aonbs-designation-and-management