What protection does the Lake District have as a National Park?
Planning regulations within National Parks are interpreted in ways that give the highest level of protection to the landscape and buildings. There is a general policy of not allowing major developments, and compared with areas outside National Parks, greater importance is attached to the design of buildings and materials used in their construction. As set out in the UK Governments Environment Act 1995, the Lake District National Park Authority’s statutory purposes are to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Lake District National Park; and to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Park by the public.
