What does it mean for planning projects when you are within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty?

Contrary to popular belief, being within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) doesn't mean there is no development at all, but it does need to be appropriate. If you are considering a project which may need planning permission, then there are a few things you need to consider.

The primary purpose of an area being designated as an AONB is to conserve and enhance Natural Beauty. Natural Beauty is defined using six indicators;

Landscape quality

Scenic quality

Relative wildness

Relative tranquillity

Natural heritage features

Cultural heritage

Information about the Natural Beauty & Special Qualities of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB can be accessed from the link.

All development proposals should seek to further the purpose of AONB designation i.e. to conserve and enhance its Natural Beauty.

If you are considering developing a large scale project your application to will need to satisfy the objectives of paragraph 170a (Valued Landscape) and paragraph 172 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Major schemes will be assessed by your Local Planning Authority (The LPA is your District Council) against these two national planning policy issues.

All planning applications will also need to satisfy a number of different policy topics in the Local Plan which is produced by the LPA. The Local Plan, which is a statutory development plan, sets out the planning needs for the area it covers for a 15 year period and also set out a policy framework that development proposals within the area will have to meet if they are to be granted planning permission.

All planning proposals have the potential to negatively impact on the Natural Beauty of the AONB. Examples include poorly designed schemes, developments that are out of scale within their surroundings, poorly siting buildings, or the use of inappropriate materials or colour finishes can all. All these factors need careful consideration.

Your LPA may have developed guidance known as Supplementary Planning Documents which sets out detailed information of issues such as design or affordable housing.

They will also have commissioned lots of studies e.g. Landscape Character Assessment, Strategic Housing Need, Flood Risk Assessments, to support the development of their Local Plan. These studies should be available on your local council's website and you might find it helpful to look at the relevant studies when working up your own development proposals.

The AONB team is not a statutory planning consultee and we have no planning powers. That rests with the Local Planning Authorities in the AONB and although not required to, all the LPAs in the AONB seek our views on both policy documents and certain types of planning applications, these includes Babergh District Council.