Hayfield village.
Protecting
THE PEAK The Peak District National Park contains some of Britain’s most beautiful, best-loved landscapes; its special qualities have been protected by the UK’s highest level of policy and planning law since 1951. Head of Planning Brian Taylor talks to Alison Riley about what it takes to protect and care for the first national park.
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ur national parks were founded in the same post-war social reforms that saw the creation of council housing and the NHS,” says Brian. “We owe much to those who campaigned over the decades and to pioneering planners for the national parks we enjoy today. If we could speak to them now, I wonder if they would agree it’s as much about communicating as it is about complying with the law.” Brian, who hails from a rural community in the Lake District, started working for the Peak District National Park Authority as a village officer over 20 years ago, and until recently was head of policy and communities. Now in the Authority’s lead planning role, which encompasses both policy and development control, Brian knows it requires a joined up approach. He says: “It’s about making sure we have a
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www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
good policy and regulatory framework for our statutory purpose – to protect and care for the National Park – and to deliver this through our planning services by providing specialist conservation advice. “We deliver policy on the ground through landscape scale partnerships like the Moors for the Future Partnership and the South West Peak Landscape Partnership. We also manage small incremental changes and protect the detail that helps conserve the character of the National Park. We do this by advising, informing and influencing individuals and land managers to achieve positive outcomes for the environment, for communities, partner organisations and businesses.” The Authority receives around 1,000 planning applications each year. Brian says: “We approve around 80% of planning applications and most of the decisions are made by our planning officers. Applications
After work, Brian Taylor likes to get out and enjoy the Peak District.
which are large, controversial, or go against policy are decided by Planning Committee.” Brian and his colleagues are keen to share that good planning protection and conservation can just as easily be about what you don’t see, as much as what you can. Behind every single decision will be a considered thought process, consultations, negotiations, paperwork and sometimes court cases that take place away from the landscape but ultimately aim to protect it.
