Plan to expand boundaries of beauty spot by 30%

The Surrey Hills was named an Area of Outstanding National Beauty in 1958

A consultation has been launched over plans to expand an official beauty spot in Surrey by 30%.

Natural England wants to make an order designating another 129 sq km (50 sq miles) to the Surrey Hills National Landscape.

First assigned in 1958, its boundary has not been reviewed since, despite repeated calls by local campaigners over the years to do so.

All submissions from the public must be received before 14 January.

Referred to as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) prior to a name change in 2023, this is the third consultation regarding proposed extensions to Surrey Hills.

The first took place between March and June 2023, and received 1,518 responses.

The second was between September and December 2024 and received more than 375 responses.

A government spokesperson said: "If, once made, the order is subsequently confirmed by the secretary of state, its effect will be to designate this land as part of the Surrey Hills National Landscape."

It is one of 46 nationally protected landscapes in the UK, having equal landscape status and protection to a National Park.

Its area currently stretches across a quarter of the county, from Farnham in the west to Oxted in the east, and as far south as the Greensand Hills, near Haslemere.

Jeremy Hunt, MP for Godalming and Ash, called it "absolutely fantastic news" and "the final steps before the expansion we have all been pushing for years".

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to [e-mail] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.