A depressing picture of damaging landscape change except where strong policies exist to protect the countryside: this is the verdict of CPRE [1] on the publication of Natural England’s report Tracking Change in the Character of the English Landscape [2] published on today (Thursday).

‘The acknowledgement that almost 40% of our landscapes are changing for the worse [3] is a sad indictment of past decisions, but this is nothing by comparison with what awaits us [4] unless we act now,’ said Tom Oliver, Head of Rural Policy at CPRE.

‘If 40% of our hospitals or schools were suffering from serious neglect or damaging change, people would rightly be alarmed and wanting answers.  As it is, there are signs that the Government could make matters much worse for our treasured landscapes if its recent proposals on planning and development are carried through. [5] Natural England’s important survey shows how vulnerable the English countryside is to unfettered economic development and poorly sited major infrastructure,’ Tom Oliver continued.

‘Crucially, Natural England’s survey also shows very clearly how to deal with this sorry tale of permanent loss.  Where there are national and local policies which give the right importance to landscape, economic and social progress has been made without trashing our amazing and much loved countryside.’

The survey shows how much our rural landscapes depend on wise development decisions and the support of traditional agricultural practices which are so important in maintaining the diverse character of our countryside. [6]

Worryingly, close inspection of the report shows that little or no evidence is available for large areas of English countryside. [7] It would be rash to interpret a lack of evidence as a sign that all is well.

‘This report is of great importance. It shows that we’re at a turning point: do we let much of the countryside become a free fire zone for developers, whether they are building industrial sheds, roads, runways, wind farms or sprawling suburbs? Or do we take notice of the evidence that if we want, we can have social and economic benefits without losing one of England’s greatest assets, its fabulous countryside,’ Tom Oliver concluded.

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, 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: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

2. Natural England, the Government’s official watchdog for the natural environment, publishes its report Tracking Change in the Character of the English Landscape on 14 June. The report analyses the 159 Joint Character Areas (which record landscape character) with reference to a series of factors including boundary features such as hedges and dry stone walls; agricultural land cover; historic features and settlement and development patterns. Each factor is assessed as to whether it is acting to enhance or maintain landscape character, or damage landscape character, either through poor quality development or neglect.  For full information see //www.cqc.org.uk/jca/

3.  10% of Joint Character Areas have been enhanced; 51% have been maintained; 20% are neglected and 19% are ‘diverging’ (where change is taking place which is damaging existing landscape character).

4.  The Government published a Planning White Paper on 21 May 2007 which CPRE fears will make Major Infrastructure Projects, large supermarkets and housing estates on green field land much easier.

5.  Both the Planning White Paper and the Government’s Energy White Paper published on 23 May threatened to unleash a new wave of damaging Major Infrastructure Projects including large scale wind farms, airport expansion and nuclear power stations.

6.  There are signs that nationally protected landscapes, such as National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are benefiting from stronger planning policies and higher levels of agri-environment funding which help maintain important landscape and historic features.

7.  In many cases the evidence for change in a Joint Character Area is thin or absent.  This should not be interpreted as meaning no damaging change has occurred.