Moved by
Baroness Willis of Summertown
139: After Clause 156, insert the following new Clause—
“Purposes and plans of protected landscapes
(1) National Parks, the Broads and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty must be managed in order to contribute to—
(a) restoring, conserving and enhancing biodiversity and the natural environment;
(b) meeting the environmental targets as set under Part 1 of the Environment Act 2021 and Climate Change Act 2008;
(c) the implementation of any relevant local nature recovery strategies under section 104 of the Environment Act 2021;
(d) the delivery of an environmental improvement plan prepared under section 8 of the Environment Act 2021; and
(e) equitable opportunities for all parts of society to improve their connection to nature of those areas and the enjoyment of their special qualities.
(2) The purposes included in subsection (1) must be considered as if they were equal to purposes listed in section 5 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, section 2 of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988 and section 87 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
(3) Relevant management plans must include targets and actions intended to further the purposes specified in subsection (2).
(4) Relevant management plans include plans under section 89 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, section 66 of the Environment Act 1995 and section 3 of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988.
(5) In exercising or performing any functions in relation to, or so as to affect, land in a National Park, the Broads or an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, any relevant authority must further the purposes specified in subsection (2) and the targets and actions in the relevant management plan.
(6) The Secretary of State must maintain a publicly available list of relevant authorities who are to comply with subsection (5), publish a statement setting out instructions for relevant authorities, and review this list and statement at least every five years.
(7) A management plan may not be made operational until it is reviewed by Natural England and approved by the Secretary of State.”