What should the North Devon Coast look like in 2030? Have your say

Residents, visitors, and local stakeholders are being asked to share their views on the Draft Management Plan 2025–2030 for the North Devon Coast National Landscape, which is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The Management Plan, reviewed every five years under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, sets out the vision, policies, and priorities for conserving and enhancing the nationally important landscape.

The Draft Management Plan sets out priorities for the North Devon Coast National Landscape. 

It highlights tourism, noting that visitors are drawn to the beaches, coastlines, water sports, and the South West Coast Path, while overall visitor numbers have declined over the past decade. 

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The plan outlines sustainable, nature-based tourism initiatives, including the World Surfing Reserve and the Biosphere’s Nature Tourism programme. 

Access, recreation, and wellbeing are also addressed, with 207km of public rights of way, 90km of the South West Coast Path, and opportunities for activities such as surfing, kayaking, coasteering, and wild swimming.

Community priorities focus on balancing economic and social needs with conservation, noting challenges such as limited transport, high housing costs, and infrastructure pressures. The plan encourages engagement through volunteering, education, and cultural projects, and highlights the Sustainable Development Fund, which provides grants to support community facilities and activities within the National Landscape.

The draft plan, coordinated by the National Landscape Team since January 2025, identifies key drivers for change and outlines outcomes, objectives, and measures of success for the coming five years.

The management plan for the North Devon Coast AONB is designed to conserve and enhance the area’s natural beauty while balancing the needs of local communities, agriculture, forestry, and rural industries.

While recreation is not the primary aim of the designation, it is encouraged where it does not compromise conservation.

The plan sets out the special qualities of the landscape, monitors trends in both its natural and socio-economic character, and identifies key drivers for change.

It also presents strategies, policies, and measures of success, including specific targets and timelines, to guide decisions and activity across the area.

The plan is intended for a wide audience, including local planning authorities, relevant government and utility bodies, landowners and developers, as well as local communities, businesses, voluntary organisations, and visitors.

Recent legislation, including the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, has strengthened the duty on authorities to actively further the purpose of protecting AONBs, replacing the previous ‘duty of regard’.

Input has been gathered from National Landscape Partnership members, local and regional agencies, and a series of seven expert-led workshops covering farming, heritage and culture, tourism, young people, communities, nature, and climate.

Joe Newberry, National Landscape Manager, emphasised the importance of public input. He said: “Public feedback is vital to ensure the Management Plan reflects the values and priorities of those who live in, work in, and care about the North Devon Coast. Once the consultation closes, we’ll review all feedback and make necessary edits before the Plan is formally adopted by local authorities and agencies.”

The consultation is open until Sunday, 26 October 2025.

Members of the public can read the draft plan online, complete a short survey, or request a printed copy by contacting the National Landscape Team at aonb@devon.gov.uk

Further information and access to the draft plan can be found at www.northdevoncoast-nl.org.uk