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One of England’s most beautiful stretches of countryside, the South Downs, has been granted National Park status after a 60 year battle to decide on the park’s boundaries.

The rolling chalk cliffs, wooded greens and river valleys of the South Downs - which already attract more than 29 million visitors each year - look set to become even more popular.

Under new plans announced by Environment Minister Hilary Benn, the 627 square mile area from Beachy Head in East Sussex to Winchester in Hampshire, will now be a National Park.

This new status means that the area will be officially recognized and will get the highest level of protection under the planning system.

The area, which will be the closest National Park to London, will become Britain’s ninth National Park and the first to be created since the New Forest in 2005.

The strip of countryside between Winchester and Eastbourne, home to 120,000 people, will be protected as one of the country’s most special places for walking and observing nature.

This decision has been a long time coming - the South Downs was first suggested for National Park status back in the 1940’s but it has taken 60 years to come to fruition.

Hilary Benn’s decision follows a 19-month long public enquiry into the planning boundaries and into which areas should be included in the new park.

Countryside campaigners and celebrities, including the author Bill Bryson, have been campaigning for the park to be as large as possible and they have succeeded - an area of wooded valley called The Western Weald, Lewes and the village of Ditchling are also going to be within the park’s boundary, and further additions depend on consultation.

Mr Benn says, “It is fitting that in this year, on the 60th anniversary of the radical legislation that gave birth to national parks, we are celebrating an addition to the family.

“National park status can be a real boost for the local economy, attracting new visitors, businesses and investment, but above all, the South Downs’ wonderful countryside will be protected forever for the enjoyment of everyone.”
 
But not everyone is happy with the new plans. As it makes any form of planning permission in the area virtually impossible, some locals are concerned that the inclusion of Lewes could put paid to the much needed improvements to the A27.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has also lent support to the South Downs National Park proposals. The new National Park is expected to attract millions of visitors each year, many flocking to the rolling hills to escape life in the big smoke.

The new South Downs National Park Authority is expected to be established by April 2010 and become fully operational a year later.