Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects the official designation of parts of the East Riding of Yorkshire as an area of outstanding natural beauty to be made; if she will set out a timeframe for achieving that status; and if she will make a statement.

Natural England, the statutory advisor to Government on landscape, is progressing the multi-year landmark designation programme announced in the summer 2021 which includes the consideration of two new AONBs, in the Yorkshire Wolds within North and East Yorkshire, the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge, and extensions to the Surrey Hills and Chilterns Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The consideration of the four designation are for the first time in decades being project managed concurrently and the full programme is expected to be completed by 2025.