About us

Strategy

There are many strategies that influence our work within the Broads including the Broads Plan, Broads Local Plan and a number of guiding strategies.

Corporate plans

See our Annual Business Plan, Annual Report and other corporate governance reports on the How we work page.

Broads Plan

The Broads Plan is the key management plan for the Broads executive area. It sets out a long-term vision and guiding actions to protect and enhance the area's special qualities. The current Broads Plan covers the period 2017-22. While the Broads Authority is responsible for its production, it is a partnership plan and its success depends on a common vision, joint working and shared resources. See the Broads Plan and latest progress updates below.

Vision for the Broads National Park to 2030

The natural environment and the beneficial goods, services and cultural values it provides, from food and energy to landscape character and recreation, are in good condition, are used fairly and sustainably, and are valued by society. In particular, the precious nature of clean, fresh water as a fundamental resource is understood and respected by all.

The past and present importance of the waterways for navigation, biodiversity and recreation is recognised and cherished, and the asset is protected, maintained and enhanced. Wildlife flourishes and habitats are maintained, restored, expanded and linked effectively to other ecological networks. Land and water are managed in an integrated way, with local and landscape scale management creating resilience and enabling flexible approaches to meet changing environmental, economic and social needs.

This living, working, ‘big skies’ landscape is notable for its natural beauty, distinctive local character and historic significance. People of all ages, abilities and circumstances experience and enjoy it as a place of escape, adventure, enjoyment, work, learning and tranquillity, and as a source of national pride and identity. Sustainable living can be seen in action and there is a buoyant rural economy. Local communities are taking an active part in decisions about their future and are known for having been pivotal in the transformation to a low carbon, ‘climate-smart’ society.

The Broads National Park will be forever recognised as fundamental to our prosperity and to our mental and physical health and well-being. It will be forever treasured as a place that provides a “breathing space for the cure of souls”.'

Read the Broads Plan Sustainability Appraisal (2017).

Broads Local Plan

The Local Plan for the Broads sets out spatial planning policies and proposals for development and land use in the Broads, which are used in determining planning applications.

Guiding strategies

A wide variety of guiding strategies and initiatives support the high level Broads Plan, generally focusing on a single theme such as biodiversity, education or access. Some of these strategies are outlined below - click on the links to find out more.

Biodiversity and Water Strategy

The Biodiversity and Water Strategy addresses how we plan to protect and enhance biodiversity within the Broads to benefit habitats, species and people. See more on the Conservation publications and reports page.

Broadland Futures Initiative

The Broadland Futures Initiative is a partnership to address future long-term flood risk management in the Broads and coast. For more information and updates, see the Broadland Futures Initiative page.

Broadland Rivers Catchment Plan

The Broadland Rivers Catchment Plan (2014) highlights the vision, goals and objectives of the Broadland Catchment Partnership to improve water quality, efficiency and understanding with the catchment. See more on the Broadland Catchment Partnership website.

Climate change and carbon reduction planning

See the latest information on the climate change page.

Education Strategy

The Education Strategy (2017-2022) provides a framework for environmental education and wider outreach in the Broads. Find out more about some of our work on our Broads Curriculum pages.

Fen Management Strategy

The Fen Management Strategy (1997) informs and coordinates our work with partners to maintain existing fen and restore lost fenland in the Broads. Find out more here: Fenland management

Integrated Access Strategy

The Integrated Access Strategy (2019) aims to address the issue of access routes, including to and between land and water, and their connections to key visitor facilities and sustainable transport links. For more information, see the access page.

Lake Restoration Strategy

The Lake Restoration Strategy (2008) outlines how the Broads Authority's approach to maintaining good water quality in water bodies in the Broads and to prevent the further decline of other existing water bodies due to climate change.

Sediment Management Strategy

The Sediment Management Strategy gives an overview of the challenge of managing sediment from the Broads waterways, and prioritises dredging requirements and programmes. Find out more on our dredging page.

Tourism Strategy

The Sustainable Tourism Strategy (2016-2020) sets out actions to enhance, manage and promote sustainable tourism in the Broads. The action plan is overseen by Visit the Broads, working closely with the Broads Authority. Given the impact of COVID-19 on the visitor economy and strategic ambitions for tourism in the Broads, the 2016-20 action plan has been extended to 2023, with a strategy review taking place in 2022/23. The review will be subject to public consultation.

Volunteer Strategy

The Volunteer Strategy (2017-2022) outlines how we use volunteers to help our work in the Broads, and identifies objectives to develop and refine our volunteer offer. Find out more on our volunteering page.