Planning for Nature Conservation: The Role and Performance of English District Local Authorities in the 1990s

This paper investigates the performance of district local authorities in their delivery of nature conservation in the 1990s, both through the land use planning system and in their wider operational functions. Studies conducted in the 1980s revealed a large gap in performance between the best and the worst performers.The last decade, however, has witnessed far reaching changes within local government as well as external influences which are likely to have affected the ability of local authorities to promote the conservation of nature. The research shows that performance has significantly improved in a number of the roles which local authorities exercise in relation to conservation. There still remains, however, a marked variation between the best performers and the remainder.