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Surrey Hills boundary extension takes major step forward as proposal reaches Secretary of State
10th September 2026
The Surrey Hills National Landscape has welcomed the submission by Natural England of its proposed boundary extension to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, marking the most significant step in the designation review process since it began in 2022.
The proposal would extend the Surrey Hills National Landscape by 129 square kilometres, an increase of more than 30%, bringing additional nationally important landscapes across Surrey, Hampshire and Greater London into the protected designation.
The submission follows more than four years of detailed assessment, consultation and engagement, with strong public and stakeholder support throughout the process. Natural England has now formally submitted all evidence, consultation findings and supporting documentation to the Secretary of State, who will make the final decision on whether to confirm the designation order.
Kathy Atkinson, Chair of the Surrey Hills Board, said:
“We warmly welcome this important milestone and would like to thank Natural England for the considerable work that has gone into developing the proposal.
The proposed extension represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to recognise and protect more of the special landscapes that define Surrey Hills and the surrounding area.
We look forward to the next stage of the process and will be writing to the Secretary of State to invite her to visit Surrey Hills, so that she can experience first-hand both the existing National Landscape and the areas proposed for inclusion within the extended designation.”
The Surrey Hills National Landscape Board has consistently supported the proposed extension and believes it would help conserve and enhance landscapes of national importance while delivering wider benefits for nature, climate resilience, recreation, public health and sustainable rural communities.
The Secretary of State will now consider the proposal and supporting evidence before deciding whether to confirm the designation order. There is currently no statutory timescale for a decision.
Further information on the Surrey Hills project is available at Surrey Hills National Landscape (AONB) Variation Project Second Consultation – Defra – Citizen Space
