Looking after the AONB

The South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty does not have a statutory conservation board or governing authority but it does have a South Devon AONB Partnership which brings together organisations and interests and provides a strategic and co-ordinated lead to the protection and enhancement of the AONB.

 

The Partnership produces a statutory Management Plan for the AONB – which provides both a strategic framework and a detailed action programme.

 

The AONB also has a small Staff Unit to act on behalf of the Partnership to co-ordinate and implement the targets and actions outlined in the Management Plan.

AONB Planning Protocol

The AONB Partnership does not have the power to determine planning applications, all applications in the AONB are dealt with by the relevant local authority.  However, planning authorities follow policies designed to protect the AONB's landscape in line with national government policy. 

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Of course, the care and management of the AONB involves far more than this! The special quality and character of the area rely more than anything on the dedication, hard work and enthusiasm of its farmers, landowners, parish activists, local historians, voluntary groups, amenity societies, wildlife groups and so many more.