Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

What is an AONB?

An AONB is an area whose distinctive character and natural beauty is so outstanding that it is in the nation's interest to safeguard it.

The primary purpose of AONB designation is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area. 'Natural Beauty' is taken to include geology, climate, soils, animals, communities, archaeology, buildings, the people who live in it, past and present, and the perceptions of those who visit it.

The landscapes of AONBs are equal in value to those of our National Parks and command the same levels of planning protection.

There are 46 AONBs in England and Wales covering approximately 15% of the land area.

The Malvern Hills AONB - facts and figures

• The area was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1959.
• The Malvern Hills AONB covers 105 square kms. It is 20kms long and 9km at its widest part.
• 58.52% of the Malvern Hills AONB is in Herefordshire.
• The AONB receives approximately 1.25 million visits annually.
• Ten different landscape types have been classified throughout the AONB. These range from the flat, sandy estate lands in the south to the high hills and slopes of the Malvern Hills themselves.
• The area contains 14 Sites of Special Scientific Interest accounting for 10.9% of the AONB.
• The AONB contains a rich historic environment including Iron Age hill forts, castles, listed parks and gardens and ancient boundary features.
• The geology of the AONB is internationally recognised through the European Geopark designation.

Caring for the AONB

Representatives from local authorities, government bodies, parish councils, landowners, community and voluntary groups form an AONB Partnership. The AONB Partnership is the only body that has responsibility of the AONB as a whole. The Partnership does not own or manage any land but supports those who do and provides strategic direction and co-ordination for the area as a whole.

Nominate your 'Grand Design'

Members of the public, property owners, parish councils, architects, housing developers and planning officers are being asked to nominate good examples of local building design to feature in a new guide being prepared by the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership. The AONB Partnership is keen to hear about examples of all forms of domestic and commercial development, including brand new buildings, renovations to older buildings, extensions and conversions, provided the buildings lie within or close to the Malvern Hills AONB.  The aim of the building design guide is to inform future development and to ensure that this makes a contribution to the distinctive character of this nationally important area. Selected examples and photographs will be included in the building design guide.

People are invited to submit their proposals by completing a short form and uploading photographs on the following website: www.countryscape.org/mh. Alternatively, nominations can be sent to the Malvern Hills AONB Partnership Office, Manor House, Grange Road, Malvern, WR14 3EY. The closing date for nominations is the end of November 2011. Consultation on a draft copy of the building design guide will take place in January 2012. For further information on the work of the AONB Partnership please visit  http://www.malvernhillsaonb.org.uk/ or contact the AONB Office on 01684 560616.

New Guidelines

The Malvern Hills AONB is dedicated to conserving and enhancing the beauty of this protected area. To continue with this we are producing guidelines on the topics of:

• Views - how to determine important views
• Horses - land management that benefits the horse and the environment
• Highways - using best practice when considering road schemes in the AONB

To view these documents please visit http://www.malvernhillsaonb.org.uk/

Herefordshire Council and the Malvern Hills AONB

Herefordshire Council helps to prepare, publish and review a management plan for the Malvern Hills AONB.

• In accordance with the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) this management plan formulates Herefordshire Council's policy for the management of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and for the carrying out of their functions in relation to it.
• Herefordshire Council has a legal duty to have regard to the purposes of conserving and enhancing the Malvern Hills AONB.
• Herefordshire County Council makes a financial contribution to the operation of the AONB Partnership each year. An Officer from Herefordshire Council - James Bisset - sits on a Steering Group to ensure that this resource is well used.
• Two elected members from Herefordshire Council sit on the Malvern Hills AONB Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) where they help to champion the AONB and co-ordinate its management. These elected members are Cllr Tony Johnson and Mary Cooper. They are supported at Officer level by James Bisset.

The AONB Partnership is financially supported by Natural England, Herefordshire Council, Worcestershire County Council, Malvern Hills District Council, Gloucestershire County Council and Forest of Dean District Council.

Further information on the Malvern Hills AONB and the AONB Partnership can be found at www.malvernhillsaonb.org.uk

Malvern Hills AONB Partnership
Malvern Hills AONB Office
Manor House
Grange Road
Malvern
Worcestershire
WR14 3EY

Tel: 01684 560616
email: aonb@worcestershire.gov.uk