Trouble viewing email? Open it in browser
 
Donate
 

Dear John

In early March, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill was introduced in the House of Commons. This Bill is important. It affects the future of the system we use to decide where to build new homes and infrastructure. While we’re increasingly concerned about its impact on local democracy, we're doing everything we can to make sure the impact will be positive for the countryside. 

The government wants the Bill to speed up the planning system, supporting their key goals of growth, clean energy, and accelerated housebuilding which will enable them to deliver 1.5 million homes by 2030. To achieve this, the bill set out a range of new measures, including changes to planning committees and reforms to key planning processes. 

Without changes being made, it could significantly reduce community involvement in planning decisions and weaken the ability for local people to have a say in challenging harmful developments. We’re working hard to ensure that local voices remain at the heart of the planning system.  

What we're calling for
 

We’ve teamed up with other organisations to create the Better Planning Coalition (BPC). Collectively, we want to see protections put in place to make sure communities are heard, and local democracy is supported: 

  • Local planning committees should retain control over key applications to uphold democracy, protect community voices, and hold developers accountable. 

  • Parliamentary scrutiny of the policies affecting big infrastructure development (National Policy Statements) is essential for accountability. We successfully campaigned for this in 2008 and must defend it now. 

  • Public participation in policies affecting local land use and development (Spatial Development Strategies) must be enabled to ensure communities have a say in shaping their local areas. 

How we can make a difference together
 

We are lobbying the government to push for key changes that will protect our countryside and communities.  

We’re asking the government to: 

  • Redefine ‘affordable housing’ to link it to local incomes, making homes more accessible for rural and local communities.

  • Increase incentives for brownfield development to ensure these sites are used before green spaces are lost.

  • Prioritise rooftop solar in the energy conversation.

  • Strengthen policies that link local plans to the upcoming Land Use Framework.

We’re informing MPs from all parties about the possible impacts the Bill might have on their communities and seeking support for change. We're also working with Better Planning Coalition (BPC) members to show how much alignment there is for the common sense changes we're seeking, and working to identify Peers who can champion these changes in the House of Lords. 

If you’ve written to your MP, we’d love to hear from you! Your insights help us shape our approach and strengthen our lobbying efforts. We will be in touch as opportunities for you to influence the bill arise. Together, we can make a difference. 
Get in touch
 

Best wishes,

Paul

Head of Policy and Planning

PS: Welcome to our new weekly email. We will still be sharing the latest updates on our campaigns and lobbying, news on nature, government announcements, and ways you can get involved. But instead of monthly, you’ll get updates each week to make sure we give you the information you need as soon as we have it.

Unsubscribe or change your contact details

CPRE campaigns for a better future for the English countryside. We work locally and nationally to promote, enhance and protect a beautiful, thriving countryside for everyone to value and enjoy. Founded in 1926, we’re a grassroots organisation, with more than 100 local groups, a branch in every county and 60,000 members and supporters. CPRE is a registered charity (1089685) and a company registered in England (04302973). CPRE holds and manages data in strict accordance with the Data Protection Act (2018). Read our Privacy Policy.

If you don’t wish to receive our emails any more, you can unsubscribe.

Campaign to Protect Rural England, 15-21 Provost Street, London, N1 7NH.
Tel: 020 7981 2800 | www.cpre.org.uk

Trouble viewing email? Open it in browser

Fundraising Standards Board
green curve