Legislation

Please note: the following legislation is reproduced as originally passed by the UK Parliament. Legislation is frequently updated and amended. Amendments are now published on the www.legislation.gov.uk (external link, opens new window) website. All Acts of the UK Parliament passed from 1988 onwards can also be viewed on-line at this same website.

The purposes and duties of the National Park Authority are laid down in section 61 of the Environment Act 1995 (external link, opens new window) which re-state the statutory purposes for designating a National Park set out in the National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act, 1949. Section 62 of the Environment Act 1995 inserts a new section 11A into the National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act 1949. This provision creates a new statutory duty on National Park Authorities and other ‘relevant authorities’ (which for the purpose of this provision means any Minister of the Crown; any public body; any statutory undertaker; or any person holding public office) to have regard to the purposes of designation when exercising or performing any functions in relation to, or so as to affect, land in the National Park. This ‘duty of regard’ which has become known as the section 62 duty, is sometimes referred to as the section 11A duty.

Other legislation that impacts on our work includes:

Constitutional & Administrative arrangements

• National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act, 1949 Parts II & V (external link, opens new window) designation of National Parks and access to open country
• Local Government & Housing Act, 1989 Part I (external link, opens new window) arrangements for staff
• Environment Act 1995 Part III Schedule 7 to 10 (external link, opens new window) National Park Authorities
• Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 Part X (external link, opens new window) Local Standards Assessment
• Localism Act 2011 (external link, opens new window) Conduct of Members 
  

Town & Country Planning

• Town & Country Planning Act, 1990 (external link, opens new window)
• Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act, 1990 (external link, opens new window)
• Planning & Compensation Act', 1991 (external link, opens new window)

Nature Conservation & Wildlife Protection

• Countryside Act, 1968 (external link, opens new window)
• Wildlife & Countryside Act, 1981 (external link, opens new window)
• Dartmoor Commons Act, 1985  (PDF Help 123kb)
• Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (external link, opens new window) access to land
• Commons Act 2006  (external link, opens new window)

There are also byelaws regulating behaviour in Dartmoor national park.