About 80 square miles of the central and western parts of Basingstoke and Deane are designated as part of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape.
This is a national designation that seeks to protect the special qualities of the area, which extends into other areas beyond ours.
It was known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) until November 2023, when the government officially re-branded these areas as national landscapes.
Management arrangements
The North Wessex Downs National Landscape is managed by a partnership, known as the Council of Partners, of which we are a member.
The partnership works to an agreed five-year management plan and oversees the work of the National Landscape team and guides how we support efforts to preserve its natural beauty.
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