The North York Moors National Park Authority has launched the first stage of preparing a new Local Plan, inviting residents, businesses, communities and landowners to help shape its future direction.
Planning policies inform decisions that affect everyday life across the National Park, from whether homes can be built in villages to whether existing buildings can be developed further.
At this initial “first steps” stage, the Authority is inviting views on the challenges and opportunities the new Local Plan should address, having published a webpage and paper called Current Thinking, setting out ten questions across four themes: nature and climate change; tourism and recreation; where new development may happen; and 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, through a “Call for Sites” exercise inviting landowners and communities to suggest potential locations for future development.
Involved from the beginning
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 real challenges: around 17% of homes in the National Park are not permanently occupied, compared with 4.3% nationally, and typical house prices sit around ten times local earnings.
Lost to second-home ownership
Planning policies have sought to address this, with the majority of new homes built since 2020 restricted to occupation by local people or those working in the area, though evidence suggests the Park’s existing housing stock continues to be lost to second-home ownership and holiday lets.
The Current Thinking document represents the formal commencement of plan preparation under the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 and the accompanying regulations (SI 2026/186), with a parallel Call for Sites running alongside the consultation.
The consultation is open until 31 August 2026, with views welcomed via northyorkmoors.org.uk/first-steps or by emailing localplan@northyorkmoors.org.uk.
