Policy position statements

Land is a precious resource, and must be used wisely. Much progress has been made in recent years in making use of previously developed land, or ‘brownfield sites’, for new development. Around three quarters of new homes are now built on brownfield sites. Overall, this is good news for the countryside, and good news for urban areas which have benefited from regeneration. CPRE supports a ‘brownfield first, greenfield last’ strategy as a general principle. However, just because a site is brownfield does not mean it should necessarily be developed.

Climate change is the most urgent and complex environmental issue we face today. The impact of both energy generation and use on the countryside and the climate is growing. CPRE believes the Government should prioritise measures to curb the growth in energy demand, encourage energy efficiency, promote a wider range of renewable technologies and ensure that new energy generation is lower carbon.

Farming is of national strategic importance, in terms of primary production of food, energy and commodities, through its crucial role in managing water and soil resources and in shaping and managing landscape and habitat. The rich character of the English countryside is largely derived from farming and the future of agriculture will play a major role in determining its future. The farming community retains professional knowledge and a skill base which will be vital to the future of productive land management in the future.

While wind energy can make an important contribution to tackling climate change, CPRE believes this should not come at the expense of the beauty, character and tranquillity of rural England. We assess wind turbine proposals for their potential impact on the landscape, taking account of their cumulative impact, and strongly resist those whose impact we consider to be unacceptable.

Good land-use planning is the unsung hero of environmental protection. It can encourage urban regeneration, curb urban sprawl, help slow the growth in road traffic, protect the beauty and tranquillity of the countryside and safeguard wildlife habitats. Effective planning is more important now than ever before with economic pressures and a growing population leading to more development intruding into the countryside. Precious Green Belt land is being eaten away despite a Government commitment to protect it. Proposed new legislation concerning the planning for major infrastructure projects presents a serious challenge to the integrity of the planning system.

Traffic and congestion are on the increase, bringing demand for new roads and bypasses. New roads may bring short-term relief, but the cost to the countryside can be unacceptably high. They rarely solve underlying problems, and new schemes should only be considered as a last resort. CPRE believes there are better solutions to our transport problems. The Government should pursue policies that reduce the need to travel, especially by car, and promote attractive alternative transport solutions.

Cars have opened up opportunities for living and working in rural areas and for visiting the countryside. Previously remote places are now within easy reach of urban areas, and the rural population has grown as a result. These increased opportunities come at a cost, however: speeding traffic, noise, pollution and new roads threaten the landscape and character of rural areas. The environmental impact of transport has become a pressing issue, and a new approach to transport policy is necessary.

Our policy on hunting with hounds.