FAQs
- manage and enhance natural beauty
- support farming and land management
- guide planning and development
- create more opportunities for everyone to explore and enjoy the Downs.
- measure progress against the 2021–2026 priorities
- seek to further the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the area
- tackle challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and habitat fragmentation
- take advantage of new opportunities, including protecting 30% of land for nature under “30 by 30”, Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS), and new planning and environmental legal duties
- work with residents, land managers, communities, and partners to create a shared vision.
- Refining the Plan (summer/autumn 2026): We will review consultation responses and update the draft Management Plan where needed.
- Approval and adoption process (late 2026/early 2027): The final Management Plan will be agreed in principle by the Joint Advisory Committee before moving through relevant council and partner governance processes for formal consideration and adoption.
- Publication (spring 2027): Once adopted by the relevant authorities, the final Management Plan will be published and formally lodged with the Secretary of State.
What is the Kent Downs Management Plan?
The Management Plan is our blueprint for the Kent Downs. It explains how we look after, manage, and enhance the landscape for the years ahead.
It guides how we:
Local councils, farmers, landowners, community groups and residents all use the Plan. It influences decisions and shapes priorities for nature recovery, farming, climate action, access and tourism.
As a statutory plan required by Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW Act) and the more recent Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA), every protected landscape must have a Management Plan reviewed every five years. But more than that, it helps us ensure the Downs thrive for people, wildlife, and communities alike.
More information on the Plan and process is available on the Kent Downs website.
Why are you updating the Management Plan?
It is a statutory (legal) requirement to review these plans at least every five years.The last Plan was adopted in 2021. Since then, a few things have changed. This review gives us a chance to:
By reviewing the Plan, we make sure it stays relevant, practical, and focused on the things that matter most for the Kent Downs now and in the future.
Who is the Management Plan for?
It’s for everyone with a stake in the Kent Downs - this includes residents, land managers and farmers, local authorities, community groups, businesses, and national partners. In short, if you live, work, farm, visit or make decisions in the area, the plan is relevant to you.
Does the Management Plan affect planning decisions?
The Plan is a key guidance document and is used to inform planning policy and decisions. While it doesn’t replace local plans or decision-making processes, it is an important material consideration in how the landscape is managed and protected.
Under Section 85 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (strengthened by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023), public bodies have a statutory duty to further the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the area. The Management Plan defines exactly what "natural beauty" means for that specific landscape.
How does the Management Plan relate to other plans and strategies?
The Management Plan sits alongside local plans, national policy and partner strategies. It helps bring everything together so there is a shared direction for the Kent Downs National Landscape.
How does the Plan support nature and climate action?
It sets out priorities for restoring habitats, improving biodiversity, and building resilience to climate change - supporting everything from chalk grasslands and woodlands to rivers and farmland systems.
For land managers and farmers, it also helps align with practical approaches that support both productivity and nature recovery.
Why should I take part in the consultation?
Because local knowledge matters. Whether you live here, manage land, or work with communities, your experience helps shape a plan that reflects real places, real challenges and real opportunities.
This is your chance to help influence how the Kent Downs is cared for in the years ahead.
You don't need specialist knowledge to respond - just your views and experience of the landscape. If you enjoy walking here, live nearby, farm the land or work in the area, your perspective is valuable.
All responses received during the consultation will be carefully reviewed by the Kent Downs National Landscape team and will be used to help finalise the Management Plan, Landscape-led Design Guide and other documents.
What happens after the consultation closes?
Once the consultation closes, we will carefully review all feedback received. We will look for common themes, new ideas, local insights and areas where changes or clarification may be needed. This feedback will help us finalise the Management Plan to make sure it reflects both local priorities and the shared ambition for the future of the Kent Downs National Landscape.
The next steps are:
What is a National Landscape?
A National Landscape is a designated exceptional landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are precious enough to be safeguarded in the national interest. On par with National Parks, National Landscapes are protected and enhanced for nature, people, business and culture. No other country in the world has National Landscapes – it is a uniquely British designation that belongs to a worldwide Protected Landscape Family.
The Kent Downs National Landscape offers dramatic views, vibrant communities, a rich historic and cultural heritage and diverse wildlife and habitats making it a worthy landscape for national protection. It is the eighth largest National Landscape and, along with the High Weald National Landscape, covers 33% of Kent’s land area providing a wealth of opportunities for people to explore, enjoy and benefit from this outstanding landscape.
What is the Joint Advisory Committee
The Kent Downs Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) brings together representatives from local authorities, national agencies, landowners and other key partners to guide the management of the Kent Downs National Landscape. The Committee provides strategic oversight and advice on how the landscape is protected, managed and enhanced, helping to ensure decisions reflect both local priorities and the national importance of this protected landscape.