Surrey Hills National Landscape expansion proposal submitted

Natural England has formally submitted proposals to the UK government to expand the Surrey Hills National Landscape by 129 square kilometres, representing a 30.5 per cent increase in protected area. The expansion includes the Dockenfield Hills, which would grant the village of Dockenfield in Hampshire the same National Landscape status as protected areas in the neighboring Surrey county.

The proposal follows four years of assessment and consultation, with Natural England reporting that between 80 and 95 per cent of respondents supported the extension. Kathy Atkinson, chair of the Surrey Hills Board, described the move as a ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’ to protect the region's special landscapes.

Gregory Stafford, MP for Farnham and Bordon, is urging Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle to approve the plans, arguing that the area’s location on the county boundary should not prevent its recognition. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will now review the plans to decide whether to approve, amend, or reject them.