Legislation
Please note: the following legislation is reproduced as originally passed by the UK Parliament. Legislation is frequently updated and amended. Amendments are now published on the Office of Public Sector Information website, www.opsi.gov.uk (external link, opens new window). All Acts of the UK Parliament passed from 1988 onwards can also be viewed on-line at this same website.
The purposes and duties of the National Park Authority are laid down in section 61 of the Environment Act 1995 (external link, opens new window)
Other legislation that impacts on our work includes:
Constitutional & Administrative arrangements
- National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act, 1949 (external link, opens in new window)
- Local Government Act ,1972 (external link, opens new window)
- Local Government & Housing Act, 1989 (external link, opens new window)
- Environment Act, 1995 (external link, opens new window)
- Local Government Act, 2000 (external link, opens new window)
Town & Country Planning
- Town & Country Planning Act, 1990 (external link, opens new window)
- Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act, 1990 (external link, opens new window)
- Planning (Consequential Provision) Act, 1990 (external link, opens new window)
- Planning & Compensation Act', 1991 (external link, opens new window)
Nature Conservation & Wildlife Protection
- Countryside Act, 1968 (external link, opens new window)
- Wildlife & Countryside Act, 1981 (external link, opens new window)
Dartmoor Commons Act, 1985
An Act to constitute the Dartmoor Commoners’ Council for the maintenance of and the promotion of proper standards of livestock husbandry on the commons in and about the Dartmoor National Park; to regulate public access to the commons; to confer powers on that Council and on the County Council of Devon with reference to those commons; and for connected and other purposes. (Now out of print, this on-line version is made available with the permission of HMSO).
- Dartmoor Commons Act, 1985 PDF
(PDF Help 123 Kb )
- Dartmoor Commons Act, 1985 (Dartmoor Commoners' Council Regulations)
- Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (external link, opens new window)
Some other legislation affecting National Parks:
- Open Spaces Act, 1906 (external link, opens new window)
- Law of Property Act, 1925 (external link, opens new window)
- Caravan Sites & Control of Development Act, 1960 (external link, opens new window)
- Commons Registration Act, 1965 (external link, opens new window)
- Ancient Monuments & Archaeological Areas Act, 1979 (as amended by the National Heritage Act, 1983) (external link, opens new window)
- Highways Act, 1980 (external link, opens new window)
- Derelict Land Act 1982 (external link, opens new window)
- Litter Act, 1983 (external link, opens new window)
- Road Traffic Regulation Act, 1984 (external link, opens new window)
- Environmental Protection Act, 1990 (external link, opens new window)
- Human Rights Act, 1998 (external link, opens new window)
- Data Protection Act, 1998 (external link, opens new window)
- Disability Discrimination Act, 1995 (external link, opens new window)
- Freedom of Information Act, 2000 (external link, opens new window)
There are also some Byelaws in respect of the Dartmoor National Park, made under section 90 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949 and section 11 of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985.
