Have your say on the Kent Downs National Landscape Draft Management Plan

The Kent Downs National Landscape partnership is seeking your views on the draft Kent Downs Management Plan 2027–2032 and the Landscape-led Design Handbook.

The Kent Downs is a truly special and varied place: a landscape of drama and intimacy. From ancient woodlands and delicate chalk grasslands to peaceful valleys, oast houses, orchards, and the iconic white cliffs. This is a living landscape rich in nature, history, and beauty. Some species found here exist nowhere else in Britain.

Around 74,000 people live within the Kent Downs, and more than two million live within ten kilometres of its boundary. It’s a treasured escape on the doorstep of some of the South East’s busiest towns and cities.

The draft Management Plan sets out how we care for, manage, and enhance the Kent Downs National Landscape - a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) - for the years ahead.

The Plan's development was informed by a survey in which more than 1,200 people and organisations shared what they value about the landscape, what makes it special, and what matters most for its future care and enjoyment.

Responses highlighted the Kent Downs’ ancient woodlands, chalk grasslands, orchards, peaceful valleys, wildlife, heritage and iconic white cliffs as some of its most valued features, alongside its strong sense of peace, escape and everyday connection to nature.

To find out more about the key changes to the draft Management Plan since the last Plan, use the tab below (next to the questionnaire) or visit the Documents section.

More information on the draft Management Plan and the process is available from the FAQs and the Kent Downs website(External link).

The Landscape-led Design Handbook provides practical design guidance to promote landscape sensitive design that contributes to the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty and special qualities of the National Landscape as a whole, and the distinctiveness of its individual character areas. It also provides guidance for proposals which have the potential to affect the setting of the Kent Downs including views into and from it.

A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Report has been completed on the draft Management Plan to make sure there are no unintended negative effects from the Plan on the environment or on the important habitats in the area. A Non-technical Summary of the SEA is available from this webpage.

The Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) for the draft Management Plan is also available to view and comment on.

Have your say

By taking part in this consultation, you will help make sure that the Management Plan, Landscape-led Design Handbook, and supporting documents are as good as they can be, and support the future conservation and enhancement of this special place for everyone. Thank you for taking the time to help us.

You can tell us your views by completing the online questionnaire.