Corporate report

Natural England designations programme for areas, sites and trails

Find out which areas, sites and trails Natural England is considering for special protection.

• From: Natural England
• Published: 13 April 2016
• Last updated: 25 September 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Natural England’s designations programme

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Details

This document shows the areas, sites and trails that Natural England is considering in its designations programme. Inclusion in the programme is not a commitment to designate.

The designations programme considers whether places are suitable to become:

• National Parks
• Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
• Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas
• Ramsar sites
• Marine Conservation Zones
• National Nature Reserves (NNRs)
• National Trails

When the formal process begins on a case it’s taken off the designations programme list at the next planned update, for example when:

• notifying an SSSI
• declaring an NNR
• launching a formal consultation, such as a potential Special Protection Area (pSPA)

Information about cases in the formal process are available from:

• the Defra consultation hub
• the designations programme (attached to this page)

Find out more about the designations programme in Natural England’s designation strategy.

Designated areas, sites and trails are mostly privately owned. Natural England works closely with landowners and other stakeholders:

• when assessing whether a place is nationally important
• following designation to support continued high quality management

Designated places represent England’s finest landscapes and very best wildlife and geological sites on land and in the sea. They:

• provide opportunities for people to experience and enjoy some of our most spectacular and beautiful land and seascapes
• safeguard vital elements of our natural and cultural heritage
• provide people with essential services like clean water, climate regulation, beautiful places for recreation, and opportunities to learn about nature
• are parts of living and functional landscapes, continuing to adapt and change within this wider context
• form a national asset

These functions of designated places help to put Natural England’s and the government’s plans into action. These include:

• Conservation 21: Natural England’s conservation strategy for the 21st century
• A Green Future: Government’s 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment

Published 13 April 2016
Last updated 25 September 2024 + show all updates

1. 25 September 2024

   We've replaced the list of national nature reserves with the updated version.

2. 15 December 2022

   Updated the list of Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves that Natural England is considering in its designations programme

3. 27 April 2022

   Updated the list of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Nature Reserves that Natural England is considering in its designations programme.

4. 11 February 2022

   Updated the list of Sites of Special Scientific Interest that Natural England is considering in its designations programme.

5. 5 August 2021

   Update to list of National Nature Reserves.

6. 15 October 2020

   Update to list of sites.

7. 15 September 2020

   The list of areas, sites and trails has been updated.

8. 7 July 2020

   Added link to the declaration documents for the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB extension.

9. 7 February 2018

   Natural England's designations programme for 2018.

10. 13 April 2016

    First published.