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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals are currently being considered for the creation, amendment and abolition of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

This is a devolved matter. In England, it is for Natural England to consider proposals for the creation, amendment or abolition of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). The Secretary of State’s role is limited to confirming, modifying or rejecting any designation or variation orders that Natural England puts forward.

The Natural England Board (as published in Board minutes) confirmed in December 2013 it would be working towards a Variation Order for the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB. Initial work towards a boundary variation to extend the Surrey Hills AONB has also been agreed (Board minutes of February 2014).

No other substantive work on AONB designation is contemplated in the next three years by Natural England, although a range of historic calls for new AONBs and variations to extend boundaries are presently being reviewed.