Living within the South Downs National Park, I have witnessed firsthand the detrimental impacts of unauthorised or premature works on our natural landscapes. Recently, land near my home, once a picturesque open meadow, has been drastically transformed into a commercial allotment site.

Although described as “agricultural,” the area now includes hardstanding for cars, shipping containers, plastic sheeting, and other intrusive structures that have seriously disturbed what was once an open meadow ecosystem.

The disturbance has affected local wildlife and the broader ecosystem — deer, birds, and small mammals that had inhabited this region for decades. Such changes are not only heartbreaking but also a threat to the ecological balance of our cherished National Parks.

Currently, under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and related regulations, developers can sometimes begin works without prior planning permission, then submit retrospective applications for consent after the fact.

By the time these are reviewed by local planning authorities, lasting harm may already have occurred to habitats and landscapes.

This aspect of planning law needs urgent review to prevent future environmental damage.

I am urging the UK Government to amend current planning legislation to prohibit the granting of retrospective planning permission for unauthorised developments within National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (such as the South Downs National Park), but only in cases where demonstrable and lasting harm to the environment, ecosystems, or biodiversity has been identified.

This targeted legislative change would be a major step towards safeguarding our invaluable natural heritage, while allowing for appropriate retrospective consents in non-harmful scenarios.

National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 for their special landscapes, wildlife, and cultural significance, and deserve the highest levels of protection.

Preserving these areas is crucial not only for maintaining biodiversity but also for ensuring future generations can enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of our natural world without witnessing the scars of careless activity.

Let’s stand together to protect our breathtaking landscapes and wildlife from further loss.

Please sign this petition to urge the UK Government to take this vital action now, ensuring that our National Parks remain untarnished by reckless or premature development that causes lasting harm.

This petition has been reviewed by a qualified planning professional to ensure that all references to current planning law and policy are accurate.