Delivering growth and so much more

Published: 18 February 2025

A Westminster Labour government committed to economic growth and social justice should recognise the vital role that nature-rich National Parks can play in prosperity and community wellbeing.

These cherished landscapes are more than just beautiful spaces – they are regional powerhouses that drive local economies, create jobs, and enhance public health. Labour has a proud history of creating the National Parks, and now, 75 years on from their founding, this government has a momentous opportunity to create a whole new chapter for that legacy. By properly investing in and protecting these areas, Labour can align its environmental commitment to greener wilder National Parks with its ambitions on growth, fairness, and opportunity.  

A driver of the green economy

National Parks already contribute so much to the UK economy. Businesses in England’s National Parks had a combined turnover of nearly £15 billion in 2022, while visitor spending alone came to £6 billion. But there is even more that National Parks can offer. Tourism, hospitality, and outdoor recreation are the lifeblood of many rural economies, and a thriving natural environment is essential for growing them. Investing in nature restoration within National Parks enhances their appeal, bringing even greater footfall and spending into these rural towns and villages. 

Securing nature-rich National Parks also serves as a catalyst for new green jobs, providing a wide range of employment opportunities in woodland and meadow creation, peatland restoration, and eco-tourism. Jobs in tree planting, rewilding projects, and small-scale renewable energy initiatives offer a win-win for local economies and meeting national environment targets. Protecting and expanding nature within National Parks will help secure these jobs for future generations and, coupled with more affordable housing and improved public transport, ensure that rural communities across the country remain vibrant places to live and work. 

Sustainable farming has a particularly important role to play in the regeneration of National Parks. England’s Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) and the Landscape Recovery Scheme have shown the success of incentivising local farmers to work in harmony with nature, improving these precious landscapes while enjoying productive agricultural businesses. As exemplars for regenerative agriculture, organic farming, and agroforestry, these landscapes can play a central role in addressing some of the pressing environmental challenges we currently face by helping to restore biodiversity, improve water quality, and enhance soil health. This investment not only supports nature and strengthens rural economies but also helps the UK move towards a more sustainable and self-sufficient food system, and so it’s vital that these schemes are maintained and expanded by government. 

The economic benefits of investing in nature are not just felt within the boundaries of the Parks. Research published last year suggested that damage to the UK’s natural environment could lead to an estimated 12% reduction in GDP over the coming years, a financial hit larger than the impact of Covid-19. Investment in National Parks should therefore be viewed as insurance against the crippling future costs of the biodiversity and climate crisis. Healthy peatlands, woodlands, and wetlands act as natural carbon sinks, helping the UK reach its net zero targets and mitigate the increasing costs of climate change. These landscapes also provide valuable flood management, protecting homes and businesses in cities like Manchester and Sheffield from extreme weather events and the damage they accrue, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change.  

Improving public health and connection with nature

Access to nature has been shown to improve physical and mental well-being. By fostering richer natural environments in National Parks, government can help encourage greater participation in outdoor activities, leading to healthier lifestyles, lower healthcare costs for the NHS and renewed economic growth. Moreover, nature-rich spaces provide an essential escape from modern life, helping to tackle issues of stress, anxiety, and social isolation, thereby supporting a more inclusive and productive society. Its estimated that every £1 of funding to National Parks in England provides £5.70 in health benefits.

This is particularly important for children and young people. Through outdoor education initiatives, such as school trips and nature-based learning programs, government can help young people connect with the natural world. A night spent camping under a National Park’s dark skies can do wonders for fostering resilience, creativity, and social development – the building blocks of a good society. 

Government needs to be ambitious in their plans

To coincide with the 75th anniversary of National Parks in December, Labour in Westminster announced plans to bring forward new legislation to restore nature and improve public access, including reforms to purposes and governance. These are welcome steps, ones that we called for in our recent Nature Health Check report. Amending the purposes will ensure National Parks are deemed nature designations as well as landscape designations, while modernising governance structures will empower National Park Authorities to better support sustainable development, biodiversity restoration, and community engagement.  

Alongside these proposed reforms we want to see a much more ambitious package of measures brought forward. We were pleased to see that the Land Use consultation, published last month, recognise that National Parks have a key role to play in delivering biodiversity but we need the right supporting framework to ensure that can happen. Further recommendations from the Health Check include increased levels of public and private investment, new powers to enforce the law and halt harm and a ‘people’s charter’ to better connect the public with these landscapes.  

Retaining and strengthening the planning protections for National Park will also encourage responsible development that enhances both the environment and local economies. This could include policies that support green building initiatives, nature-based enterprises, and small-scale renewable energy projects that complement the natural surroundings. By taking a balanced approach, Labour can create a planning system that safeguards National Parks while allowing communities to thrive. 

Budget cuts could undermine Labour’s push for growth

An even more pressing issue is the funding package being offered to National Parks in England for the coming year. One scenario could see National Park Authorities (NPAs) receive £5 million less than the previous year, effectively a cut of 12% that could be made worse by further Defra spending restrictions. But factoring in inflation, the picture is much worse, equating to a 40% reduction in real terms across England’s National Parks Reducing NPA budgets poses a serious threat to the environmental integrity and economic potential of these landscapes, as detailed above. Budget cuts could result in reduced maintenance of trails and visitor facilities, diminished support for local businesses, and the weakening of conservation initiatives that protect biodiversity and tackle climate change. If National Parks are to play a key role in Labour’s sustainable future, they must be properly resourced to meet their full potential. 

By embracing a vision of National Parks as hubs of environmental prosperity, Labour can deliver on its pledge for growth that benefits both people and the planet. Protecting and restoring these landscapes for nature is not just a moral obligation – it is a smart economic strategy that will support jobs, communities, and the health of the nation.

Image: Broads National Park © Justin Minns