In 1949 the government decided to protect identified areas of natural beauty for future generations as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or National Landscapes. For further details on National Landscapes visit the Defra website or our National Association webpages.

There are two National Landscapes within East Devon : Blackdown Hills National Landscape and East Devon National Landscape which together occupy some 66% of the district.

The East Devon National Landscape was designated in 1963. The Blackdown Hills National Landscape was designated much more recently, in 1991.

Read a fascinating historical account of the designation process and evolution of the East Devon National Landscape boundary, first proposed in 1957 by Brigadier P.B. Acland (1902-93)  click here (pdf 4mb).

The East Devon National Landscape covers 103 square miles (268 sqkm) including 18 miles of Heritage Coast and the East Devon section of the World Heritage Site ‘ Jurassic Coast ‘.
The designation covers, or part covers 30 parishes and the boundary extends into and/or skirts the resorts of Exmouth, Seaton and Sidmouth, but includes Budleigh Salterton.

Click here to view the National Landscape area. Another way to check whether your property is in the National Landscape is by entering your postcode into the ‘My Neighbourhood’ search on the District Council website. The definitive boundary can only be viewed using Natural England’s data, as shown in the Magic Map Application – select Designations / Land-based designations / Statutory / National Landscape.

The East Devon National Landscape Partnership is a joint initiative core-funded by East Devon District Council, Devon County Council and Defra, working to help conserve and manage the East Devon National Landscape. The Partnership is responsible for the production and delivery of a five yearly Management Plan, in consultation with communities and agencies active within the National Landscape.

The East Devon National Landscape Communities Project Fund encourages local people to carry out positive improvements to the local environment. The grant scheme supports projects that conserve, enhance and celebrate the diversity and character of the East Devon National Landscape area.

There are a number of other funding sources available too, contact us for more information.

The East Devon National Landscape Partnership is consulted by the Planning Authorities (East Devon District and Devon County Council) on developments within the National Landscape in accordance with an agreed protocol.

Any comments in relation to landscape-impacts will be considered by the Planning Authority in the same way as other consultations. It is important to stress that the National Landscape Partnership is not a statutory consultee and has no statutory planning function, unlike National Parks. The National Landscape Manager responds on behalf of the Partnership, where appropriate and as resource allows.

Consultation responses are made within the context of the Landscape Character Assessment for East Devon; identifying the landscape type the proposal is set within, its key features, and the recommended management guidelines for the maintenance of the landscape character.  For further details please see the National Landscape Planning Protocol .

For further details on planning policies see EDDC Planning pages.