South Downs National Park - Administration

Administration

The national park is administered by the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA). The SDNPA was established on 1 April 2010, and became fully functioning, including becoming the planning authority for the national park, on 1 April 2011. It is responsible for promoting the statutory purposes of the national park and the interests of the people who live and work within it. The statutory purposes of the SDNPA, as a national park authority, are specified by the Environment Act 1995; these are:

• To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area

• To promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the Park’s special qualities by the public.

It must also fulfill the following duty:

• In carrying out its role, the Authority has a duty to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of the communities living within the National Park.

The SDNPA is a public body, funded by central government, and run by a board of twenty seven members. The board consists of seven national members, appointed by the environment secretary by means of an open recruitment process; fourteen local authority nominees drawn from the fifteen local authorities covering the park area with Adur and Worthing opting to share a place; and six parish council representatives, two for each county.

The chair of SDNPA is Margaret Paren, a former civil servant who after retirement became involved in campaigning for the national park.