The Partnership's Plan - Lake District National Park

Who is going to make it happen?
Local people, visitors and the many organisations working in the National Park, or have an
interest in it, must be united in making it happen.
To explain more
Throughout the history of the National Park, we have encountered many different and
sometimes conflicting interests: we must look after the landscape yet not stifle the economy;
we need viable local communities but we do not want tourism to unbalance them. We must not
destroy what people come to see, understand and explore.
It’s a huge challenge but we want to rise to it. We want to sustain the elements that make the
Lake District National Park well known, unique, much visited and of course - much loved.
Is a prosperous economy more important than our spectacular landscape? Looking
beyond the order of outcomes
Many people have questioned the order in which we have described the outcomes we seek to
achieve in our Vision. By putting it first, some think we are prioritising support for a prosperous
economy over spectacular landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage.
We do not put one outcome above another. All are important. We look beyond the format of
the document and consider the overarching principle behind sustainable development:
• Living within environmental limits
• Achieving a sustainable economy and
• Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society.
We say that to sustain the Lake District, we must bring together all the elements. By this, we
mean the economy, the environment and our communities being treated as one – no single
element can be managed alone. Issues will be addressed jointly by the organisations and
people who care for the Lake District through the Partnership. A key consideration will be how
the National Park adapts to and mitigates climate change – a cross cutting theme which
affects all outcomes.
This way of working is clearly supported by the Government’s Circular and Vision for National
Parks (Annex D). The Government believes early progress towards achieving its Vision for
National Parks can be made by focusing on the following outcomes in the next five years:
• a renewed focus on achieving the Park Purposes
• leading the way in adapting to, and mitigating climate change
• a diverse and healthy natural environment
• enhanced cultural heritage
• inspiring lifelong behaviour change towards sustainable living and enjoyment of the
countryside
• fostering and maintaining vibrant, healthy and productive living and working communities
and
• working in partnership to maximise the benefits.
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