Extensions to the boundaries of the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales national parks have come into effect today (August 1st), which could have an impact on construction planning in the affected areas.
It means more stringent planning regulations will be in place in the areas given national park status, with the national park planning boards taking over functions normally given to local councils.
The Lake District has increased in size by three per cent, with one extension on the south-eastern edge near Kendal, while there is a larger eastern extension between the historic 1951 boundary at the A6 and the present-day M6.
This motorway will actually form a boundary between the two national parks, as part of the 24 per cent increase in the size of the Yorkshire Dales includes the northern Howgills to the east.
Established in 1952, the Dales was constrained in size by the historic boundaries of Yorkshire, some of which no longer apply as part of it is now in the post-1974 county of Cumbria. The northern
Howgills were excluded because they lay in the now-defunct county of Westmorland.
