Yorkshire-born expert is new planning chief for the Moors

Chris France replaces Val Dilcock who is retiring after 36 years with the authority's planning team.

Mr France, a father-of-three, joins the authority from Dartmoor National Park where he was director of planning. Prior to that, he worked in planning at the Exmoor National Park including nine years as head of planning.

He has a degree in geography and landscape studies from the University of Southampton and a planning degree from Bristol Polytechnic. He has also worked in planning for Weymouth and Portland Council in Dorset.

He said: "I am really looking forward to getting to know the team at the National Park Authority and also meeting the people who live and work in the North York Moors. I was born in Guisborough and am excited about exploring old haunts as well as discovering new places.

"I am keen to strengthen the relationship between the National Park Authority and its communities and will be attending various parish forums to find out more about local priorities.

"Affordable housing provision is an issue I see as being increasingly important and I'm keen to hear people's views on what they feel is needed."

Authority chief executive Andy Wilson added: "Although no two national parks are the same, they have much in common.

"Chris' considerable experience will be a great asset. He joins as we begin to look at the management plan for the North York Moors and I look forward to getting his thoughts on how we can ensure that the National Park continues to be a thriving, living, working landscape.

"We are obviously very sad to see Val go. Her dedication to the authority and the wider North York Moors has been immeasurable and we wish her all the very best for a happy retirement."

The North York Moors National Park contains the largest expanse of heather moorland in England and Wales covering an area of over 44,000 hectares or around one third of the National Park.

It has one of the largest concentrations of ancient and veteran trees in northern England. Almost a third of the Scheduled Monuments for the Yorkshire and Humber region are on the Moors.