Decision details

Adoption of Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape Management Plan

Decision status: Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Decisions:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Tyldesley)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer – Planning and Climate Change to approve the adoption of the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape Management Plan.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

 

Option 1: To adopt the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape Management Plan

Option 2: not to adopt the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape Management Plan

Advantages

The City Council is one of the organisations responsible for the governance and operation of the National Landscape at Arnside and Silverdale and the formal process requires the approval of the relevant local authorities (which includes LCC) before the MP can be submitted to Government. The adoption would be in accordance with the required approach and makes it clear that Management Plans are a starting point for actively managing these protected landscape areas.

None known.

Disadvantages

None known.

Without formal adoption, the Council would not be fulling its duty under Section 89 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 which requires the relevant authorities to adopt the Management Plan. This would lead to less overall guidance and direction for those actively managing the National Landscape. The Council would not be able to fulfil their statutory duty under Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 to ‘seek to further the purpose’ of the designation.

Risks

None known.

Without an adopted Management Plan, it will be harder to protect the National Landscape from inappropriate development and would result in fragmented management of the landscape area.

 

The preferred option is Option 1, for Lancaster City Council to formally adopt the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape Management Plan.

 

 

Councillor Tyldesley proposed, seconded by Councillor Bannon:-

 

“That the recommendation, as set out in the report, be approved.”

 

Councillors then voted:-

 

Having declared an interest in this item Councillor Tyldesley did not vote.

 

Resolved:

 

(1)        That approval be given to the adoption of the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape Management Plan which, on adoption, will act as a material consideration in planning decisions, guide delivery and provide a strong foundation for support in bids for funding opportunities for projects within the National Landscape.

 

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Chief Officer Planning and Climate Change

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

As set out in the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949; confirmed by Section 89 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, the primary purpose of the designation is to conserve and enhance natural beauty and Management Plans should guide the work of the National Landscape Partnership. At a district level, the Local Plan sets out the Council’s broad strategy for its two National Landscape areas within the Strategic Policies and Land Allocations (climate emergency review) DPD and the Development Management (climate emergency review) DPD, both adopted in January 2025 and the Management Plan is in general conformity with these documents.

 

The report set out the preferred way forward for adopting the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape Management Plan. Actioning the formal adoption will help ensure that the National Landscape is effectively and cohesively managed and protected.

Publication date: 13/02/2026

Date of decision: 10/02/2026

Decided at meeting: 10/02/2026 - Cabinet

Date comes into force if not called in: 21/02/2026

Call-in deadline date: 20/02/2026

Current call-in Count: 0

Accompanying Documents: