Fund that reaches where others don’t

England’s National Park Authorities [1] have published the findings [2] of an independent review of seven years of operation of the Sustainable Development Fund [3] which shows just how successful it has been.

The review, conducted by Land Use Consultants [4], for the English National Park Authorities Association [5] found that, amongst other positive findings, the Sustainable Development Fund (SDF):

Draws down high levels of other funding. The £9.9 million invested in the Sustainable Development Fund has attracted £42.5 million in funding from other sources. This compares well with other grant schemes operating in rural areas.
Creates jobs. Over 16% of the projects created jobs, and over half of those projects received less than £1,000 per job created.
Reaches where other schemes do not. The SDF gives priority to innovative ideas and is prepared to take risks on projects with no proven track record, supporting initiatives that would otherwise fall between the gaps of other funding schemes. The SDF often provides the first offer of funding from which other support can be generated.
Meets needs identified by communities and businesses. A key strength of the SDF is its emphasis on a ’bottom-up’ delivery.
Provides practical examples of sustainable development in action.

Speaking at the unveiling of the report at the House of Commons, Tony Gates, Chief Executive of Northumberland National Park Authority, said: “One of the successes of the SDF has been to position National Park Authorities at the forefront of innovation and change leading to sustainable living in our most iconic rural areas. We are thus able to help rural and other areas move to a low carbon economy, and one which is in tune with our natural and cultural heritage.”

John Riddle, Chairman of the UK Association of National Park Authorities and Chairman of Northumberland National Park Authority said: “In drawing together evidence from all the English National Park Authorities and the Broads Authority this report gives us a clear picture of the positive effects on businesses, communities and the special qualities of National Parks that the Sustainable Development Fund has had to date, and it also indicates some ways in which we could improve its delivery.

“National Park Authorities look forward to working individually and collectively to take up the challenges and opportunities indentified in the report with the aim of making the Sustainable Development Fund even more successful in future.”

In the Northumberland National Park Action Area, which incorporates all the communities in and bordering the park, the Sustainable Development Fund has supported 133 projects up to 2009 (38% community/voluntary and 41% commercial businesses) and drawn in some £6 million of cash match funding, that’s £5 for every £1 of SDF funding invested.

Notes

1.)

England has ten National Parks. They cover 9.3% of England by land area. Each has a National Park Authority (NPA) who have two statutory purposes. These are to:
conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of their areas; and
promote opportunities for the public understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of their areas.

In addition, the Broads Authority has an additional statutory purpose to protect the interests of navigation. In furthering these purposes, the NPAs are to seek to foster the social and economic well-being of their local communities.

2.) A summary report and the full findings can be found on the ENPAA website.

3.) Since 2003, each NPA in England has been allocated a sum of £200,000 per annum by Defra to offer SDF grants to promote sustainable ways of living. During the first seven years of the SDF programme to March 2009, 1,235 projects have received funding and a significantly greater number of people have received advice and guidance. The SDF seeks to promote sustainable development, partnership working and social inclusion among communities and businesses in ways that support the two statutory purposes of the National Park designation. There is an expectation that the programme will develop models of sustainable development that could be applied more widely by other local authorities.

Each NPA operates its own SDF independently, according to its own local circumstances but within the guidelines established by Defra in its original prospectus (replicated in Appendix 2 of the report). SDF officers are employed or contracted to administer the scheme. Funding decisions are made by SDF panels comprising members and representatives of local communities including the voluntary, environmental, business and social sectors.

The South Downs National Park was not included in this assessment as it was designated as a National Park in 2009. The South Downs Joint Committee has been operating the SDF under the AONB arrangements and was assessed in the 2007 study of the effectiveness of the SDF in AONBs.

4.) Land Use Consultants (14 Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5RH. Tel: 0117 929 1997. www.landuse.co.uk). One of the UK’s first specialist environmental consultancies, LUC was founded in 1966 by conservationist, author and former head of the Nature Conservancy Council, Max Nicholson. With over 40 years’ experience, LUC takes a holistic view of our precious landscape, considering its history, culture and community. Being independent, we offer sound, impartial advice, keeping the environment, and people’s relationship with it, at the heart of all our work. Now with over 100 professionally qualified staff, Land Use Consultants has offices in Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London.

5.) ENPAA (the English National Park Authorities Association) is the body that represents the National Park Authorities in England. It is a not for profit company limited by guarantee (company number 6521048, registered in England at First Floor, 2-4 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3NW). ENPAA supports policy making by providing a collective voice for the nine National Park Authorities. More information is available at: www.enpaa.org.uk

SDF in National Parks Evaluation Survey (PDF format)

Media contact:

Frances Whitehead, Communications Officer
Northumberland National Park Authority

Email: communications@nnpa.org.uk
Telephone: 01434 611542
Fax: 01434 611692