Purpose of this Partnership Plan
Each National Park Authority is required to develop and monitor a Partnership Management Plan for the landscape it oversees. It is the most important document for the National Park.
The Plan is for the National Park as a whole and sets out what partners across the National Park will deliver together over the five-year period, including the work of the National Park Authority. At its heart, this plan is about collective ambition. This Plan sets out seven ambitious, shared aims for the next five years. Under each aim there are specific objectives (15 in total) and clear targets.
The Plan is for everyone who has an interest in or cares about the National Park. Everyone has an active role to play, and it will take us all to achieve.
© Jamie Fielding
What do we mean by partnership - who is "we"?
National Parks are our most precious and protected landscapes. In the same way that it takes “a village to raise a child”, the task of managing the South Downs National Park is not for the National Park Authority alone. Securing the new 2060 vision for the South Downs will need all those who live, work in, visit and have statutory obligation to the National Park to do their part. Some of those partners will play major roles, like the farmers, foresters and other custodians of the land. Others, such as visitors or dog walkers, will play a smaller but no less important role by visiting with care and respect. Working together we can achieve ambitious and great things for this landscape that we all love and enjoy the benefits of. In this Plan when we refer to “we”, it means this collective of National Park custodians. When referring to the work of the National Park Authority we will use “the Authority”.
What do we mean by partnership - who is "we"?
National Parks are our most precious and protected landscapes. In the same way that it takes “a village to raise a child”, the task of managing the South Downs National Park is not for the National Park Authority alone. Securing the new 2060 vision for the South Downs will need all those who live, work in, visit and have statutory obligation to the National Park to do their part.
Some of those partners will play major roles, like the farmers, foresters and other custodians of the land. Others, such as visitors or dog walkers, will play a smaller but no less important role by visiting with care and respect. Working together we can achieve ambitious and great things for this landscape that we all love and enjoy the benefits of. In this Plan when we refer to “we”, it means this collective of National Park custodians. When referring to the work of the National Park Authority we will use “the Authority”.
How has it been developed?
The Plan is based on engagement with a wide range of stakeholders and a review of evidence from the State of the Park Report. We have focused particularly on those voices not heard enough.
The effect of the Plan on social, environmental and economic objectives has been tested through a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and the effects on internationally designated sites have been considered through a Habitats Regulation Assessment.
What do we mean by partnership – who is "we"?
National Parks are our most precious and protected landscapes. In the same way that it takes “a village to raise a child”, the task of managing the South Downs National Park is not for the National Park Authority alone. Securing the new 2060 vision for the South Downs will need all those who live, work in, visit and have statutory obligation to the National Park to do their part.
Some of those partners will play major roles, like the farmers, foresters and other custodians of the land. Others, such as visitors or dog walkers, will play a smaller but no less important role by visiting with care and respect. Working together we can achieve ambitious and great things for this landscape that we all love and enjoy the benefits of. In this Plan when we refer to “we”, it means this collective of National Park custodians. When referring to the work of the National Park Authority we will use “the Authority”.
The communities of the South Downs live and work in this landscape and have a vital role in creating, shaping and maintaining the special qualities for which the National Park is celebrated. A vibrant rural economy and homes that meet local needs underpin this.
Yet, human pressures on the National Park are very real, with half of the carbon emissions in the National Park coming from visitors and businesses. We, alongside the wider UK National Park family, are committed to regenerative tourism where the aim is not only to minimise the impacts of tourism, but to strive towards tourism making a net positive contribution to our National Parks. As we face the challenges of nature loss and climate change, we must work together to secure a positive future for this special place so that it can be enjoyed and loved by generations to come. Many of the aims in this Partnership Plan simply cannot be achieved without the positive actions of our communities, and our farmers and other rural businesses. Positive action is already happening all over the National Park, but it must be underpinned by a healthy local economy providing jobs for people, affordable homes in our communities, supplying local goods to reduce transport miles, supporting active and sustainable transport, and promoting regenerative tourism.
The UK National Parks Commitment to Regenerative Tourism:
- Champion and support tourism development that contributes to the enhancement and regeneration of the places and communities in which it operates.
- Support tourism activity that helps reduce carbon emissions and increases nature recovery, while ensuring National Parks are relevant to everyone’s needs.
While destination management is not led by the National Park Authority or any one body across the National Park, working together we can support a welcoming, thriving, nature-rich and climate positive National Park that works for all. This work will be underpinned by the evidence from the 2025 South Down Visitor Accommodation Review and Regenerative Tourism Policy SDE7 in the draft South Downs Local Plan 2024-2042.
How has it been developed?
The Plan is based on engagement with a wide range of stakeholders and a review of evidence from the State of the Park Report. We have focused particularly on those voices not heard enough.
The effect of the Plan on social, environmental and economic objectives has been tested through a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and the effects on internationally designated sites have been considered through a Habitats Regulation Assessment.
How has it been developed?
The Plan is based on engagement with a wide range of stakeholders and a review of evidence from the State of the Park Report. We have focused particularly on those voices not heard enough.
The effect of the Plan on social, environmental and economic objectives has been tested through a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and the effects on internationally designated sites have been considered through a Habitats Regulation Assessment.
How will we measure success?
The ambition of the Plan is focused on 7 Aims, with 15 clear objectives sitting under them. Each objective has targets to track our collective progress and measure whether it has been achieved. The National Park will report back on these targets on an annual basis through our website.
What is the PLTOF!
Throughout the targets in this Plan you will see references to PLTOF. The Government has developed the Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Framework (PLTOF), which establishes ambitious targets for National Parks and National Landscapes. It recognises the crucial role protected landscapes play in achieving positive changes for nature, climate, people and place. The PLTOF is made up of ten targets for protected landscapes and partners to prioritise and focus on delivery.
How will we measure success?
The ambition of the Plan is focused on 7 Aims, with 15 clear objectives sitting under them. Each objective has targets to track our collective progress and measure whether it has been achieved. The National Park will report back on these targets on an annual basis through our website.
What is the PLTOF!
Throughout the targets in this Plan you will see references to PLTOF. The Government has developed the Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Framework (PLTOF), which establishes ambitious targets for National Parks and National Landscapes. It recognises the crucial role protected landscapes play in achieving positive changes for nature, climate, people and place. The PLTOF is made up of ten targets for protected landscapes and partners to prioritise and focus on delivery.
How will we measure success?
The ambition of the Plan is focused on 7 Aims, with 15 clear objectives sitting under them. Each objective has targets to track our collective progress and measure whether it has been achieved. The National Park will report back on these targets on an annual basis through our website.
What is the PLTOF!
Throughout the targets in this Plan you will see references to PLTOF. The Government has developed the Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Framework (PLTOF), which establishes ambitious targets for National Parks and National Landscapes. It recognises the crucial role protected landscapes play in achieving positive changes for nature, climate, people and place. The PLTOF is made up of ten targets for protected landscapes and partners to prioritise and focus on delivery.
How does it link to the South Downs National Park Local Plan?
This Plan sets the vision for the National Park and our shared ambitions for the next five years. The Local Plan is a spatial, land-use plan for the National Park, setting out where development should happen, for housing, economic activity and nature, and what it should look like. Its policies support the delivery of this Plan. The Partnership Management Plan is a material consideration in planning decisions, and the Local Plan is a means of delivering aspects of it.
How does it link to the South Downs National Park Local Plan?
This Plan sets the vision for the National Park and our shared ambitions for the next five years. The Local Plan is a spatial, land-use plan for the National Park, setting out where development should happen, for housing, economic activity and nature, and what it should look like. Its policies support the delivery of this Plan. The Partnership Management Plan is a material consideration in planning decisions, and the Local Plan is a means of delivering aspects of it.
How does it link to the South Downs National Park Local Plan?
This Plan sets the vision for the National Park and our shared ambitions for the next five years. The Local Plan is a spatial, land-use plan for the National Park, setting out where development should happen, for housing, economic activity and nature, and what it should look like. Its policies support the delivery of this Plan. The Partnership Management Plan is a material consideration in planning decisions, and the Local Plan is a means of delivering aspects of it.