Broads Authority

Name

Broads Authority

Legal name

Broads Authority

Website

https://broads-authority.gov.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Park Administration

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

National Parks & Protected Area Visitor Services (Concessions, Guided Access) (THAAAAAH)

Keywords

• National park management
• Waterways navigation
• Conservation services
• Visitor services
• Environmental planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Norwich

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Boat Tolls: Annual and short visit tolls charged to boat owners for use of the Broads waterways. Tolls must be purchased before operating vessels on the Broads. Income from tolls funds essential works including dredging, bank protection, and renewing quay-headings.
2. Government Funding: Core funding from government as a National Park Authority. The Authority must have regard to the needs of agriculture and forestry as well as the economic and social interests of those in the Broads.
3. Visitor Services and Donations: Revenue from visitor centres, boat trips, publications, and voluntary donations from supporters of the Broads National Park.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Broads Authority is a UK statutory body that manages the Broads National Park, Britain's largest protected wetland covering 303 square kilometres across Norfolk and Suffolk. It operates as a National Park Authority, Local Planning Authority, and Harbour/Navigation Authority, delivering conservation management, navigation and boating services (including tolls, moorings and bridge information), visitor services through three visitor centres and boat trips, planning permission processing, and educational resources such as the Broads Curriculum and Broadcaster Magazine.

Product overview

The Broads Authority is a statutory body managing the Broads National Park as a member of the UK national parks family. The organisation operates as a unified local planning authority and harbour/navigation authority. Its service portfolio spans conservation and environmental management, navigation and boating facilities (including the Tolls Online System and moorings), visitor services (three Visitor Centres at Hoveton, Ranworth, and Toad Hole Cottage offering boat trips), publications (Broadcaster Magazine for visitors and Broad Sheet newsletter for toll payers), education (Broads Curriculum for schools), planning permission services via the Public Access portal, and volunteer programmes. The Authority serves boaters, visitors, residents, and stakeholders of Britain's largest protected wetland through integrated services combining regulatory, educational, and recreational functions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tolls Online System Online portal enabling boat owners to register vessels, pay annual tolls, and manage toll details for use of the Broads navigation area.
• Public Access Planning Portal Web-based portal that allows users to monitor planning application progress, submit comments, view application details and weekly lists, and receive email notifications of changes or updates.
• Visitor Centres Three visitor centres at Hoveton, Ranworth, and Toad Hole Cottage at How Hill offering information, displays, wildlife boat trips, and sales of books, maps, postcards and gifts. Open Easter to end of November annually.
• Broads Authority Boat Trips Wildlife boat trips offered from visitor centres including the solar-powered Ra on the River Bure from Hoveton, the Edwardian-style launch Liana exploring Malthouse Broad and Ranworth Dam, and Electric Eel exploring dykes at How Hill with a guide.
• Planning Permission Services As the local planning authority for the Broads, the Authority provides planning permission guidance, application processing, appeals handling, and policy development through the Local Plan for the Broads.
• Conservation and Environmental Management Management of land and water including water plant cutting, riverside tree and scrub management, water quality monitoring, dredging, bank protection, fen management, carr woodland, biodiversity and nature recovery, and wetland conservation across 303 square kilometres and 28 SSSIs.
• Navigation and Boating Facilities As harbour and navigation authority, the Authority provides yacht stations, electric boat charging points, free moorings, moorings map, bridge information, tide tables, navigation notices, safety guidance, and byelaws enforcement for the Broads waterways.
• Broadcaster Magazine Annual visitor magazine produced with Visit the Broads and Countrywide Publications, containing information about days out, water safety advice, tips for exploring by boat, bike, paddle or foot, and news from the Broads National Park.
• Broads Curriculum Online educational resource for teachers to bring the Broads National Park alive for students, including Geography KS2 resources, online resources, external education providers, and materials about the Broads, peat, and environmental topics.
• Volunteer Programmes Various volunteer roles including Practical Volunteer, Survey Volunteer, Ranger Volunteer, Education Volunteer, Events Volunteer, Visitor Centre Volunteer, Communications Volunteer, Fitter Volunteer, Yacht Station Volunteer, Potter Heigham Volunteer, Barton Boardwalk Volunteer, Database Volunteer, and Administration Volunteer.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 7 million annual visitors to the Broads area
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Visit the BroadscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisit the Broads is the destination management organization for the Broads. The Broads Authority works with Visit the Broads to produce Broadcaster magazine and promote tourism to the Broads National Park.
• Countrywide PublicationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublisher of Broadcaster magazine, the annual visitor magazine produced by the Broads Authority. Contact for paid advertising in future editions.
• Network RailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork Rail operates the rail swing bridges at Somerleyton, Reedham, Trowse, and Oulton Broad. They staff and open bridges as required by vessels. Trowse bridge currently has mechanical issues requiring seven days notice for openings.
• Peel PortsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates Breydon Bridge in Great Yarmouth. Vessel lifts can be booked through Peel Ports via phone, email, or VHF Channel 12.
• Phoenix FleetminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperates pilot service for Potter Heigham Bridge allowing hire boats and private boats to pass through. Charge of £10-£15 for return journey depending on boat type.
• Norfolk Broads DirectminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperates pilot service at Wroxham Bridge for hire boats. Service available March through October, 8:30am – 5pm seven days a week. Charge of £15.00 for return passage.
• National Parks UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Broads Authority is a member of the UK National Parks family, sharing resources, best practices, and joint initiatives for conservation and public engagement.
• Oulton Broad Yacht StationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates Mutford Lock providing access from Lowestoft to the Broads. Lock passage includes arrangements for Oulton Road Bridge and Oulton Rail Bridge.

Scale indicators7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lake District National Park Authority: UK National Park Authority operating under identical statutory framework (Environment Act 1995) with the same triple mandate of conservation, recreation, and planning. Directly comparable governance, funding model, and visitor services structure to the Broads Authority.
• South Downs National Park Authority: UK National Park Authority with comparable conservation, planning, and visitor services mandate. Similar population-proximity dynamic to the Broads given its proximity to major South East England urban centres.
• Peak District National Park Authority: UK's first National Park Authority operating under the same statutory regime as the Broads. Highly comparable in scale of visitor numbers, conservation duties, and planning authority role, making it a strong operational benchmark.
• Cairngorms National Park Authority: Scottish National Park Authority with the same conservation, recreation, and planning mandate as the Broads. Comparable scale of protected landscape and visitor economy, offering a cross-jurisdiction benchmark.
• New Forest National Park Authority: UK National Park Authority sharing the same statutory duties and DEFRA funding channel. Operates a comparable mix of conservation, planning, and visitor services with a similar headcount profile.
• Exmoor National Park Authority: Smaller UK National Park Authority with the same statutory framework and visitor-services-plus-conservation operating model. Useful comparable for the Broads' smaller-area operations and partnership-based delivery.
• Northumberland National Park Authority: UK National Park Authority operating under the same statutory duties. Comparable in operating scale and reliance on tourism, grant funding, and conservation partnerships.
• Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority: Fellow UK National Park Authority with the same statutory duties for conservation, public enjoyment, and planning. Closely comparable in operating model, headcount range, and reliance on DEFRA funding and visitor income.

Broad incumbents

• Natural England: UK government's adviser on the natural environment, responsible for SSSI designations that govern much of the Broads. Overlaps on conservation program administration and species protection but operates nationally rather than as a single-park authority.
• Environment Agency: UK statutory body with broader environmental regulation, flood defence, and water management responsibilities. Overlaps with the Broads Authority on water resources, navigation, and conservation oversight but operates at national rather than park-level scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BroadsAuth
• Facebookfacebook.com/BroadsAuthority
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/broads-authority

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Broads Authority