The Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority has backed efforts to establish the Yorkshire Wolds as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Members of the Combined Authority’s Executive Board backed the plans, which would give the area special protections, at a recent meeting held in Hessle.
Natural England is currently undertaking a consultation into adding the area to the list of more than 30 AONBs across England. Other examples of protected areas include the Cotswolds, the Lincolnshire Wolds, and the North Devon Coast.
Mayor Luke Campbell, who chairs the Executive Board, sought clarity on whether the area being designated as an AONB would “give land the protection from solar farms and stuff like that”. East Riding Of Yorkshire Council’s Director of Planning and Development Management, Stephen Hunt, explained: “It’s basically a landscape designation so it does raise the bar for new developments in terms of what would be allowed.”
Mr Hunt added: “Large scale proposals like solar farms and large wind turbines, that would have an impact on the landscape, would be more severely controlled by an AONB designation and only those that don’t undermine the reasons for designation will be supported. So in theory, yes, it raises a bar for good design and it will prevent some forms of developments taking place where the impact is significant.”
A large proportion of the area that could soon be designated as an AONB is within the boundaries of East Riding Of Yorkshire Council. Prior to the formation of the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority, the council showed support for the designation.
In late 2024, Cllr Anne Handley, the leader of the council who is now also a member of the Combined Authority’s Executive Board, said: “I’m delighted that the Yorkshire Wolds, a large part of which is situated in East Riding, are being considered for national level designation.
“We are very lucky to have a range of fabulous natural assets from the Wolds to the coast, which attracts millions of visitors each year. It is fantastic to see the area, with its outstanding natural beauty, considered for such a significant status.”
In deciding whether to designate the Yorkshire Wolds as an AONB, Natural England will consider if the area has sufficient natural beauty to be considered ‘outstanding’ and if it is desirable for the area to be designated as an AONB. It will also have to be decided where the boundaries of the AONB would be drawn.
By: Andrew Spence, LDRS
