Executive summary

This progress report provides information on the delivery of the Peak District National Park Authority Plan (Decile 6: 1st October 2025 – 31st March 2026).

This is an overview of the Authority’s progress for the second half of Year 3, at the end of Q4.

The Authority has continued to perform well in the face of uncertainty over year 3 of our Authority Plan. The reduction in core grant funding this year required us to take difficult decisions upfront to reduce our costs, with further organisational change coming into effect as the year closes. However, as we end the year with news of the FY26/27 Defra settlement, I’m extremely pleased that we have been offered the best possible scenario we modelled. Alongside the accelerated capital programme resulting from additional Defra capital funding which has allowed us to develop projects that deliver future income generation, our proactive management of ongoing reduction in core funding means we're now in a secure financial position for the year ahead.

Despite this ongoing financial uncertainty during FY25/26, we still delivered the majority of our Enabling Delivery aims on target at year end. Planning performance remains excellent with over 90% of development decisions made within 8 weeks and a high proportion of applicants making use of the pre-application advice service. The Authority’s statutory duties for open access and enhancing priority routes have continued to be delivered, with Access for All capital funding used on a variety of projects to improve ease of access. Our exemplary work to support both staff and volunteers continues well, with average recorded staff sickness days at 4.71, well below the target of 9 day per person per year. New volunteer roles are being developed within the People of the Peak project, as well as new Volunteer Patrol and Cycle Hire Welcome Volunteer roles. We successfully spent the full allocation of capital uplift awarded by Defra last year, which has allowed us to increase income targets going into the new year. There are some delays to the delivery of the Authority’s Asset Management Plan, but with vacant posts filled and a Heritage Lottery Fund bid to support the development of the North Lees Estate Plan soon to be submitted, increased capacity will help us to progress these targets in the next year. The Governance Working Group is on hold due to a vacancy resulting in reduced capacity, which has delayed the governance review target. However, all other governance, information and performance targets are on track.

This progress as an Authority on our Enabling Delivery Aim targets throughout FY25/26 has been exemplary, especially given the ongoing financial uncertainty and further organisational change. As we move into year 4 of the Authority Plan, we’re in a position of more certainty and stability. This will allow us to consolidate the vital work we deliver for the nation in managing our treasured landscape. We will continue to seek to bring further resources into the Authority to support this work, and the valued colleagues who deliver it. I’m confident that, during this penultimate year of this plan, we will work together to advance our targets.

Phil Mulligan Chief Executive