Appendix D - Draft Monitoring Framework (Task A4)
Monitoring is tailored to land use and development matters only, i.e. objectives relating to land use where the Local Plan has an influence. The Authority carries out a wide range of other work to support National Park purposes. Progress against other objectives is captured through Authority Business Plan reporting and Management Plan reporting.
The monitoring framework suggested for the next Local Plan is similar to the previous Local Plan, and is:
| Objective | Indicator | Baseline | Target | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To maintain and enhance the quality and character of the landscape of the North York Moors, including the special qualities of remoteness, tranquillity and dark night skies | Number of applications refused using Policy ENV2 Tranquillity. | 0 | 0 | NYMNP records |
| - | Number of planning permissions granted for non-essential development in Remote Areas | One (2025/6) | Zero | NYMNP records |
| - | Number of dark sky conditions attached to permissions for development | 2025/6 | Maintaining | NYMNP records |
| To protect and enhance water, soil and air quality, and reduce pollution, and improve efficiency of water use. | Annual mean Nitrogen Dioxide level as measured at High Muffles | 4 µg/m3 (2025) | Decreasing | Defra Air Quality Annual and Exceedance Targets |
| - | Number and percentage of river and water bodies with quality described as ‘good’ under the Water Framework Directive (includes lakes, groundwater, river and transitional and coastal waterbodies) | Rivers: 32% ‘good’ (243km out of 792km) (2022) | All appropriate rivers and water bodies are classed as ‘good’ | Environment Agency |
| - | - |
Waterbodies: 22.1% of 95 waterbodies (2022) | All appropriate rivers and water bodies are classed as ‘good’ | Environment Agency |
| To reduce the causes of climate change and ensure future development is resilient to the effects of climate change, including reducing the impact of flooding and coastal erosion and avoiding flood risk. | Percentage of planning applications approved contrary to advice of the Environment Agency | 1 (2014/15) | 0 | NYMNP Records |
| - | Average level of greenhouse gas emissions within the National Park (per Km2) | 0.2 ktCO2e (2024) | Decreasing | UK Government UK local and regional greenhouse gas emissions statistics, 2005-2024 |
| To maintain and enhance conditions for biodiversity and geodiversity and avoid irreversible losses or damage to designated nature conservation sites, protected species and geological assets. | Percentage of non-geological SSSIs with monitored features in favourable condition | 42% (2025) | Increasing | Natural England |
| - | Percentage of geological SSSIs with monitored features in favourable condition | 94% (2025) | Increasing | Natural England |
| - | Extent of priority habitat types (2025) | Upland heathland (42,008ha) | Increasing | Natural England |
| - | - | Deciduous woodland (9,262ha) | Increasing | Natural England |
| - | - | Woodland pasture and parkland (1,145ha) | Increasing | Natural England |
| - | - | Blanket bog (637ha) | Increasing | Natural England |
| - | - | Maritime cliff and slope (487ha) | Increasing | Natural England |
| - | Populations of wading birds breeding on moorland | Surveyed population based on 84 x 1km squares (2024) | Maintaining | NYMNP monitoring |
| To conserve and enhance the historic environment, heritage assets and their settings and to help facilitate opportunities for greater access to and understanding of the historic environment. | Number of Listed Buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments on the Buildings at Risk register |
Listed Buildings: 33 (2025) Scheduled Ancient Monuments: 41 (2025) | Reducing | Historic England |
| To re-use brownfield land and empty buildings bearing in mind their potential nature conservation and heritage value. | Housing completions on previously developed land |
55% (5 year average 2020/21 to 2025/26) | Maintaining | NYMNP Monitoring |
| To foster and maintain vibrant local communities and encourage a sense of community and belonging. | Percentage % of households and businesses opportunity of access to broadband |
67% (Download) (North Yorkshire) (Spring 2026) | 100% | Offcom Connected Nations Update Spring 2025 |
| To provide decent housing in accessible locations to meet the needs of local people, including the young and elderly, and to maximise opportunities for provision of affordable housing. | Number of new homes completed (all types) |
23 (2025/26) | Increasing | NYMNP Monitoring |
| - | Number of affordable homes completed |
Zero (2025/26) | Increasing | NYMNP Monitoring |
| To protect and enhance access to community facilities, leisure and recreation opportunities and access to the countryside. | Percentage of villages with key services (general store, post office, village hall, village pub, children’s play area) |
General store 24% Post Office 19% Village Hall 76% Village Pub 74% Children’s Play Area 35% (2025) | Maintain | NYMNP Monitoring |
| To make sure new development is easily accessible to essential services, to help reduce the need to travel and minimise the environmental impact of transport. | % of employed National Park residents travelling less than 20km to their place of work | 30.4% (2021) | Maintaining | ONS Census |
| To strengthen and diversify the local economy by supporting a range of opportunities for employment and training particularly in sustainable locations. | Percentage of National Park population over the age of 16 who are economically active (excluding full time students) | 51.1% (2021) | Increasing | ONS Census |
| - | Number of registered businesses in the National Park | 2,030 estimate (2024) | Increasing | Business Register and Employment Survey |
| - | Median earnings of employees living in the National Park |
£40,400 (male) £32,000 (female) (2025) |
Increasing (male) Increasing (female) | Natural England PLTOF |
| To support the tourism and recreation industry by ensuring that development contributes to the local economy in a manner compatible with National Park purposes and protect or enhances opportunities for understanding and enjoying the National Park’s special qualities. | Value of tourism to the National Park economy |
£1,067 Million (2024) | Increasing | STEAM |
| - | Annual tourism visits (day only) |
7.2 million (2024) |
Increasing Increasing | STEAM |
| - | Annual tourism visits (overnight) |
1.84 million (2024) | Increasing | STEAM |
| - | Number of full time equivalent jobs supported by visitor activity and spend | 11,407 (FTEs) | Increasing | STEAM |
| - | Percentage of promoted rights as way classed as easy to use | 87% (2025) | Increasing | NYMNP Monitoring |
| - | Percentage of other rights of way classed as easy to use | 78% (2025) | Increasing | NYMNP Monitoring |
Last updated: 31 Oct 2026