The Forest of Bowland was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1964 and a National Lanscape in 2023. The area covers 803 square kilometres straddling six local authorities. The local authorities in whose areas the AONB exist have legal responsibility for the planning, development and management of the area, including the duty to prepare a management plan. Preparation and delivery of the management plan is the responsibility of a Joint Advisory Committee (JAC).
The revised Forest of Bowland AONB Management Plan (2019 -2024) was approved by the JAC in February 2019 subject to any amendments arising from the final environmental report. The management plan must be adopted separately by each local authority and therefore remains as ‘pre-adoption version’ until adopted by all local authorities.
The management plan was adopted by the Wyre council cabinet in April 2019. They delegated authority to the head of planning services to approve amendments arising from the final environmental report. The head of planning services approved the amendments arising from the final recommendations in the environmental report in June 2019. If any further substantive amendments are recommended by another local authority then these will need to be considered and approved by the JAC and subsequently the cabinet.
The adopted local plan (2011-2031) includes a policy SP5 relating to the Forest of Bowland. The policy makes reference to the AONB management plan as a material consideration.