CPRE responds to 2026 autumn budget

Chancellor John Healey delivered his first budget statement today.

Commenting on the autumn budget statement, CPRE chief executive Roger Mortlock said:

‘Devolution plans that give regional bodies more spending powers are welcome, but devolution must deliver for the countryside as well as for towns and cities. It’s great to see the language of builders and blockers abandoned, but communities need to be properly involved to avoid the countryside feeling like a dumping ground for new infrastructure. Rural postcodes too need agency and funding to back their ambitions.

‘The data centre covenant is a step in the right direction. But the wild west of unchecked data centre development risks a land crisis on top of the energy and water challenges the Chancellor mentioned. The covenant should also plan strategically where data centres are built and how community voices can be better heard.’