Decision

Notice by the Secretary of State under section 52 [and 55(1)] of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949: Dunnerholme, Askam-in-Furness, Cumbria (VR18)

Updated 14 November 2025

Applies to England

Introduction

On 8 January 2020 Natural England submitted a compendium of coastal access reports relating to the stretch of land between Silecroft to Silverdale to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under section 51 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (“the 1949 Act”), pursuant to its duty under section 296(1) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (“the 2009 Act”).  

On 20 October 2022 the Secretary of State gave notice under Section 52(2) that the proposals for length 2 of the Silecroft to Silverdale stetch were approved (“the approved coastal access provisions”).

On 17 July 2024, under section 55(1) of the 1949 Act, Natural England submitted a coastal access variation report relating to proposed changes to the approved coastal access provisions (“the coastal access variation report”) to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The coastal access variation report proposed changes to the approved coastal access provisions at Dunnerholme, Askam-in-Furness, Cumbria.

In reaching their determination under section 52 of the 1949 Act the Secretary of State has considered:

a. proposed changes to the England Coast Path at Dunnerholme, Askam-in-Furness, Cumbria - Natural England’s coastal access variation report submitted to the Secretary of State on 17 July 2024

In this notice –

(a)  “objection” means an objection about the coastal access report which is made under paragraph 3 of the Schedule

(b) “representation” means a representation about the coastal access report which is made under paragraph 7 of the Schedule

Secretary of State’s approval of coastal access proposals

The Secretary of State has determined to approve in full the proposals for the route and associated coastal margin as set out in the coastal access variation report, in relation to which no objections or representations were made.

The approved variation to the route is set out at Annex A.

The Secretary of State has made available at www.gov.uk:

a. a copy of this notice

Natural England has also made available here:

b. proposed changes to the England Coast Path at Dunnerholme, Askam-in-Furness, Cumbria – the coastal access variation report