As well as being countryside champions and campaigners, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has a long history of promoting and facilitating public engagement with the planning system. To further this aim CPRE, with partners the National Association of Local Councils (NALC), has been awarded a Government grant to promote and enable greater public involvement in the planning system.

Shaun Spiers, CPRE Chief Executive, says: “The Planning system has always been the most powerful tool local people have to shape and care for the places they live. With our partners NALC we look forward to helping people understand the positive role that local and neighbourhood planning can play in bringing about sustainable development, while also protecting our environment.

“In parallel to delivering advice CPRE will continue to campaign vigorously in defence of a democratic planning system that helps protect the countryside and the environment more generally.  We fundamentally disagree with the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s view that the planning system is about jobs and economic growth above any other considerations, and believe that this poses a huge threat to the countryside.  We will do all we can to ensure that the planning system delivers sustainable development, rather than development at any price, regardless of the social, environmental or aesthetic damage it causes.

“But we are delighted to receive this grant and will work hard to enable local communities engage with the planning system and support appropriate development, not least affordable rural housing which is greatly needed in many parts of the country.”

The grant will contribute to three distinct strands of work:

• Advice on the planning system, including training materials, targeted advice material, an advice phone line and website.
• A programme of local training events to train people in how to contribute to their local plan.
• A national network of planning champions drawing on the experience of NALC’s county associations and CPRE’s branch network.

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Notes to Editors
[1] You can read the Department for Communities and Local Government press release here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1886583

Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. www.cpre.org.uk

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) is the nationally recognised membership body representing the interests of around 9,000 local councils and their 80,000 local councillors in England. Local councils serve electorates ranging from small rural communities to major cities, all are independently elected and raise a precept from the local community. Together, they can be identified as among the nation’s most influential grouping of grassroots opinion-formers. Over 15 million people live in communities served by local councils, around 35% of the population, whilst over 200 new local councils have been created in the last 10 years.