CPRE sets out why national planning policy must recognise the intrinsic value of unprotected countryside; define 'sustainable development'; encourage the re-use of brownfield sites and promote affordable rural housing in the right place.

This report responds to one of the potentially most far reaching changes proposed in the Government’s consultation draft National Planning Policy Framework. It examines the proposals to cease giving clear priority nationally to development on brownfield sites (formally called ‘previously developed land’) before greenfield. It also considers the implications of the related recent policy changes made by the Government to drop the minimum housing density range which has until recently been recommended as national policy.

This response presents CPRE's case for a holistic strategy to protect England's coast from ill-considered development, coastal erosion and climate change. We believe that the planning system must play a major role in delivering this by adapting to the effects of climate change and reconciling the needs of agriculture and public access to the coast. To this end, CPRE welcomes the Government's schemes to fund coastal planning and develop best practice in adaptation.

This report draws out key points from a study commissioned early in 2011 by CPRE Gloucestershire. In summary, the project brief was to contribute to the unfolding government policy on localism by reviewing the effectiveness of community involvement in neighbourhood planning in the area of Parish Plans and Village Design Statements.

Examples from around the country where a right of appeal could have helped stop or remedy bad planning decisions for the benefit of the community.

A CPRE report analysing the first year of implementation of the National Planning Policy Framework.

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.

CPRE has strong concerns that the draft National Planning Policy Framework would be both unworkable and damaging as a statement of national planning policy. The draft policies threaten both the long term health of our countryside and sustained investment in urban areas, and seek to promote economic growth seemingly at any cost, rather than development that is truly sustainable. This document sets out our key concerns and points of evidence in this summary, followed by our key recommendations to address these issues.