How does the National Park Authority help to look after villages?

The National Park Authority works with local people to help them care for the villages and traditional buildings in the North York Moors.

In Britain, if someone wants to alter a building or build a new building they have to apply for permission from their local authority. People who live in the National Park have to apply for permission from the National Park Authority.

The Authority looks at the plans and decides whether or not to allow each development. Over 90% of applications are approved each year, but often with some conditions so that the planning authority can make sure that all buildings fit in well to the landscape and don’t look out of place.

Parts of 41 villages in the National Park have been designated as ‘Conservation Areas’. This means that the Planning Authority is very careful to keep them special and avoid any development that might spoil them.

There are also about 3000 buildings in the Park that are ‘Listed’. This means that they are very important for historical or architectural reasons and cannot be altered or damaged.

The National Park Authority runs a scheme called the Village Improvement Scheme. This can provide advice and grants on how to improve parts of a village or carry out repair work to important buildings or places damaged by visitors such as footpaths and car parking areas.

The Authority has also been involved with many projects to help the people living in the area. This has included projects to improve local public transport and to advise and help local businesses such as craft workers.