People living, working and running businesses in the North York Moors are being invited to help shape the future of the National Park as work begins on a new Local Plan.
The North York Moors National Park Authority has launched the first stage of the process and is seeking views on the key issues the plan should address, including housing, climate change, tourism and future development.
The Local Plan sets the planning policies that guide decisions on issues such as where homes can be built, whether access tracks are appropriate in the landscape and how existing buildings can be developed.
As part of the consultation, the authority has published a “Current Thinking” document outlining ten questions across four themes: nature and climate change, tourism and recreation, where new development should take place, and local housing sites and policies.
The authority is also carrying out a “Call for Sites” exercise, inviting landowners and communities to put forward land that could be suitable for future development, particularly to help tackle the shortage of homes for local people and workers in the National Park.
Chief executive Tom Hind said the consultation was an opportunity for people to influence the long-term future of the protected landscape.
He said: “The decisions made through the Local Plan will help shape the future of the North York Moors for many years to come. That is why it is so important that people get involved right at the beginning of the process.
“Whether you are passionate about protecting nature, concerned about the availability of affordable housing, run a local business, or simply care about the future of the National Park, this is a genuine opportunity to influence the conversation and help strike the right balance between conserving the special qualities of the North York Moors, supporting local communities and fostering economic growth.”
The consultation comes as the authority seeks to address ongoing housing pressures. Around 17 per cent of homes in the National Park are not permanently occupied, compared with 4.3 per cent nationally, while average house prices are around ten times local earnings.
The North York Moors, which attracts more than nine million visitors a year and supports more than 11,000 jobs, is also home to more than 44,000 hectares of internationally important protected habitats.
Responses can be submitted at northyorkmoors.org.uk/first-steps, or by emailing [email protected].
The consultation is open until 31 August 2026.
Be the first to comment