The North York Moors National Park Authority has launched the first stage of preparing a new Local Plan and is inviting residents, businesses, communities and landowners to help shape its future direction.
Planning policies inform decisions that affect everyday life across the National Park: whether homes can be built in villages, whether access tracks are appropriate in the landscape, or whether existing buildings can undergo further development.
The Local Plan guides how these decisions are made, and the National Park Authority now wants to hear from the people who know the North York Moors best.
At this initial ‘first steps’ stage, the Authority is inviting views on the challenges and opportunities the Local Plan should address. To support the discussion, it has published a webpage and paper entitled Current Thinking, which sets out ten questions across four key themes:
- Nature and climate change
- Tourism and recreation
- Where new development may happen
- Local housing sites and policies
Particular interest is being placed on sites that could help address the shortage of housing for local people and those working in the National Park who are struggling to find suitable accommodation. Through a ‘Call for Sites’ exercise, the Authority is also inviting landowners and communities to suggest sites that may be suitable potential locations for future development.
Tom Hind, Chief Executive Officer of the North York Moors National Park Authority, said:
“The decisions made through the Local Plan will help shape the future of the North York Moors for many years to come. That is why it is so important that people get involved right at the beginning of the process.
"Whether you are passionate about protecting nature, concerned about the availability of affordable housing, run a local business, or simply care about the future of the National Park, this is a genuine opportunity to influence the conversation and help strike the right balance between conserving the special qualities of the North York Moors, supporting local communities and fostering economic growth.”
The North York Moors is an internationally important landscape for nature, with more than 44,000 hectares designated as a Special Protection Area. It is also a major contributor to the local economy, welcoming more than nine million visitors in 2024 and supporting over 11,000 jobs.
At the same time, housing affordability and demographic change continue to present challenges for local communities. Around 17% of homes in the National Park are not permanently occupied, compared with 4.3% nationally. For many local people, buying a home remains out of reach, with typical house prices around ten times local earnings.
Planning policies have sought to address these issues, with the majority of new homes built since 2020 restricted to occupation by local people or those working in the area. However, evidence suggests that the National Park's existing housing stock continues to be lost to second-home ownership and holiday lets.
The Local Plan will need to respond to these pressures while ensuring the National Park remains a place where wildlife and habitats are enhanced, local businesses can thrive and communities have the homes and opportunities they need to prosper.
Please let us have any thoughts via the web site at northyorkmoors.org.uk/first-steps, or by emailing localplan@northyorkmoors.org.uk. The consultation is open until 31 August 2026.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The 'Current Thinking' document represents the commencement of formal plan preparation under the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 / SI 2026/186.
The Call for Sites is open alongside this consultation.
Media contacts
Nina Beadle, Communications Office, North York Moors National Park Authority
press@northyorkmoors.org.uk
01439 772700
The North York Moors National Park
The North York Moors is a beautiful landscape of stunning moorland, ancient woodland and historic sites. Created on 28 November 1952, it became Britain’s sixth national park. Covering an area of 554 square miles (1,436 square kilometres) the National Park has 26 miles of coastline, two national nature reserves, 840 Scheduled Monuments and over 3,000 listed buildings, attracting an estimated 9.03 million visitors a year.
The National Park has two visitor centres, Danby Lodge National Park Centre and Sutton Bank National Park Centre, providing opportunities for cycling, walking, eating, picnicking, shopping, crafts and wildlife-watching. The centre in Danby also houses the Inspired by… gallery, which features regularly changing exhibitions by artists who draw their inspiration from the North York Moors.
The North York Moors National Park Authority works with a wide variety of people to care for this beautiful corner of Yorkshire, providing apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities with nearly 14% of staff being apprentices from local families.