To be designated as a National Park an area of land has to meet certain statutory tests relating to the quality of its landscape, cultural heritage and wildlife; and the opportunities it has for recreation. Friends of the Lake District commissioned leading landscape adviser Alison Farmer to conduct an independent assessment of the area and make recommendations as to where she felt potential boundary lines should be.

These are considered in our Executive Summary, which has specific sections on the Cartmel and Morecambe Bay area. 

Flookburgh has not been recommended for inclusion as she does not consider it meets the natural beauty criterion for designation. The full report sets this out on page 369. However, it is noted that this potentially leaves an isolated area of land on the southern fringes of the peninsula. This relatively small area would not have the benefit of skills and resources a National Park would bring.

Natural England guidance does allow for ‘‘wash-over’ to be applied to land even though that land does not itself meet the designation criteria, even close to the boundary of a designated area’. There is some merit in seeking to apply wash-over where in longer distance views the peninsula is seen as a whole and in the context of Morecambe Bay. This will be a decision for Natural England. If they decide to take the project further, they will have to consult on potential boundary lines and anyone wishing to make amendments to those lines can comment. The ultimate decision on the final line would be down to Natural England and the Secretary of State.