Cotswold District Council calls for more clarity on the potential for a Cotswold National Park

This follows the publication of the 2019 Glover Review of National Landscapes which suggested that the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) could become a National Park. The Government is currently asking for feedback on its response to the review that closes on 9 April 2022.

Cllr Juliet Layton, Cabinet Member for Development Management and Licensing, said: “There are some positive suggestions in the Government's response to the Glover Report into National Landscapes. However, we are very concerned about the lack of clarity on the Government's behalf when it comes to the Cotswolds’ National Park status. 

“We simply cannot support National Park status for the Cotswolds. It would be a disaster for our residents and would likely increase the housing affordability crisis here in the Cotswolds. It would also limit the say local people have on planning development in the Cotswold District with decisions on what gets built in the area made by an undemocratic board rather than elected representatives.

“In response to the Glover Report, Cotswold District Council and other local councils have passed motions outlining our opposition to the Cotswolds AONB becoming a National Park. Some of the good suggestions put forward in the Glover Review shouldn’t be predicated on our area becoming a National Park.

“That's why we are calling on the Government for more clarity in our response to this consultation. Without this additional detail, it is not clear how the Government will address the matters raised within the Glover Review.”

The Council's Cabinet noted that they were supportive of many of the ideas in the Government’s response to the Glover Report but highlighted there was still a great deal of work required to best protect our natural landscapes. 

As part of the recommendations proposed by the Glover Review, Cotswold District Council has been carrying out its own work over recent years to protect the environment. This has included working with The Cotswolds National Landscape to develop the Cotswold Nature Recover Plan and the Cotswold Water Park Nature Recovery Plan. 

The Government is also interested to hear any wider views from the public on other aspects of their response to the review. View the Government's response to the Landscapes Review consultation. You can give your views using this online survey.