What is the Sustainable Development Fund?
The ~ Sustainable Development Fund ~ is a grant scheme launched in 2005 with funding from Defra. The scheme funding is allocated annually to all the AONBs in England and Wales. Grants supports projects that bring environmental, social and economic benefits to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) administering the fund. It aims to develop and test innovative methods of achieving a more sustainable way of life in this protected landscape of great beauty and diversity.
Within the Arnside and Silverdale AONB, £67,500 was available in the fund from April 2007 until the end of March 2008. Most of this has already been allocated to Projects with approximately £2,700 currently available to apply for.
The fund can provide grants to organisations, businesses, community groups and individuals who wish to explore and develop practical projects that enhance, conserves and enhances the environment, develops local economic activity, links local communities and improves quality of life.
You can see the latest newsletter by clicking the link here SDF Newsletter 3
What is Sustainable Development?
There are many definitions of sustainable development, some of them very confusing! Set out below is the definition that we use when considering projects for the fund.
"Sustainable Development will promote and enhance the environmental, economic and community well being of the Arnside/Silverdale AONB, and ensure a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come."
Achieving sustainable development requires working towards four main goals at the same time:
- Social progress which meets the needs of everyone
- Effective protection of the environment
- Ensuring a diverse and prosperous rural economy
- Prudent use of natural resources
A copy of the full sustainability checklist, which is used to assess your project, is available on line from the links and downloads page or a printed version can be picked up from the AONB Office. Completing this yourself will help you judge how or if your project fits the criteria of the fund.
AONB Designation and Purposes
AONBs came into existance under the same legislation that
introduced National Parks onto the map of England and Wales. The National
Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 established the framework
for National Parks and AONBs and brought into being the Public Rights
of Way network as we know it.
The designation reflects the high value society places on areas of exceptional
landscape quality. Where as National Parks came into being with two statutory
purposes, AONB's have a single statutory role. Expressed simply, an AONB is
designated for the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty of the
area. Unlike National Parks there is no statutory purpose relating to recreation.
But landscape does not exist in a vacuum and in planning
for the AONB's future we will therefore be taking account of the social
and economic life of the area, the needs of local communities and opportunities
for quiet recreation.
It must be said, however that where these issues are in conflict with the statutory
role, Conservation will take precedence. (This concept is widely known as the
Sandford Principle).
These purposes have been re-inforced by measures in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act), The Arnside/Silverdale AONB Executive, acting on behalf of the District and County Councils responsible for the AONB, has introduced a management plan for the AONB. This includes a clear vision as to the importance of Sustainable development and the role of the AONB Unit helping all who live and work or visit the AONB to make a difference to the AONB's future.
If you want to know more about the CROW Act 2000 and information
about the 40 AONBs in England and Wales, please refer to the
Natural England AONB pages
and the
CCW AONB pages
