The northern Howgills, which will be brought into the Yorkshire Dales if Natural England's recommendations are accepted

The decision to recommend the enlargement of two English national parks has been hailed as a victory for commonsense.

Natural England, the Government’s advisory body on the outdoors, said today the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales national park boundaries should be extended.

The two parks will be enlarged by a combined total of nearly 500 sq km (193 sq miles). The final decision on the proposals will be made by Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary of State Caroline Spelman.

Natural England’s board made the decision to enlarge the two parks today, after consultations lasting two years.

If approved by Ms Spelman, the anomaly of only half the Howgill Fells being in a national park will be removed. The eastern valley of Borrowdale, where a leisure company planned to build an eco-village two years ago, would also be brought into the Lake District national park.

Natural England said it had considered the natural beauty of the proposed extensions, the opportunities they provide for open-air recreation and the desirability of looking after them as national parks.

Impact assessments have helped identify the environmental, social, economic and recreational impacts that designation would be likely to bring, it said.

Poul Christensen, chair of Natural England said: “The board’s decision to proceed towards the designation of the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales national parks is the result of many years of detailed assessment work and public consultation.

“It represents an important opportunity to ensure that these special landscapes are looked after for future generations to enjoy. The decision to designate these areas is subject to confirmation by the Secretary of State and we look forward to presenting our recommendations to her in due course.”

The Natural England proposals are to enlarge the Yorkshire Dales park to include, to the north, parts of the Orton Fells, the northern Howgill Fells, Wild Boar Fell and Mallerstang; and to the west, Barbon, Middleton, Casterton and Leck Fells, the River Lune and part of Firbank Fell and other fells to the west of the river.

The proposed variation to the Lake District National Park includes, to the east, an area from Birkbeck Fells Common to Whinfell Common; and to the south an area from Helsington Barrows to Sizergh Fell, and part of the Lyth Valley.

Borrowdale, which at the moment lies just outside the eastern boundary of the Lake District

Welcoming the board’s decision, David Butterworth, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted that Natural England’s board is now taking forward the process to extend the boundary of the Yorkshire Dales national park.

“The farmers and landowners who, for generations, have lived and worked in these places have helped create the great natural beauty and many special qualities that visitors enjoy today – and that make the areas worthy of national park status.

“We believe these areas have many unifying features and characteristics such as the Settle to Carlisle line, limestone pavements and hay meadows, as well as similar community issues such as affordable housing, access to services and sustainable communities – issues that resonate with the existing national park.

“As part of this process, Natural England has undertaken extensive consultation and we are delighted that it shows that the majority of residents who responded are enthusiastic about the proposals and recognise the many and varied benefits that designation will bring.

“It’s a real victory for commonsense in looking at national park boundaries in terms of the quality of the landscape rather than outmoded and short-term administrative or political issues.”

“We now look to the Government to recognise the points we made in our submission regarding providing the necessary funding to allow us to manage the new areas and to ensure appropriate representation for local communities on the national park authority.”

More than two-thirds of respondents in consultations on the enlargements said they were in favour of extending the National Parks and there was widespread consensus that the proposals met the criteria. Cumbria County Council opposed the move.

A spokesperson for the Lake District National Park Authority said: “We have always taken the view that we will manage whatever size and shape national park Natural England decides we should manage.

“We are pleased that the special landscape values of these potential additional areas to the national parks have been recognised. We will now wait to see what the Secretary of State says about Natural England’s recommendation and we will look forward to working with local communities in whatever further consultations or enquiries may follow.”

Jack Ellerby from the Friends of the Lake District said: “The Lake District and Yorkshire Dales national parks are huge assets for Cumbria’s economy, national wellbeing and future prosperity.

“We want everyone to recognise this bigger picture and grasp the opportunities that the national park extensions create and get behind Natural England’s recommendations.”

Ruth Chambers from the Campaign for National Parks added: “This is fantastic news and means that wonderful landscapes like the northern Howgills and the Orton Fells are a step closer to receiving the national protection that they deserve.

“The Government has recently announced changes to the way that national parks are run to ensure that local people have a greater say in their management. We encourage people from these areas to get more involved in their national parks.”

Variation orders officially making the changes are likely to be submitted to Defra in January.