Key planning policy to scrap protection for valued landscapes, we warn

A policy cited in at least 100 planning appeals that have protected the countryside from inappropriate major development is set to disappear from England’s planning rulebook, warns the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

The ‘valued landscape’ policy, which has shaped planning decisions since its introduction in the 2012 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), has been omitted from the government’s proposed new draft, leaving countryside more vulnerable to land speculators.

CPRE is calling on ministers to reinstate the policy in the final version of the new framework, which is due to be published this summer.

The revised NPPF appears to downplay the value of landscape character in plan-making and development decisions. This will put these areas, especially those outside nationally protected landscapes, at risk of unsuitable development.

While the NPPF does not define a ‘valued landscape’, previous judgements have established that a ‘valued landscape’ has qualities beyond the ordinary. CPRE argues that these could include: rural character, scenic quality, far-reaching views, a sense of history, historic lanes, recreational use and public enjoyment.

Examples of cases that have cited the NPPF ‘valued landscapes’ policy include:

• A proposal in Herefordshire for polytunnels and 18 static caravans was dismissed, protecting the setting of nearby historic castles, the local landscape character, and the River Lugg/River Wye protected area from the risks of floodwater pollution.
• A proposal in Berkshire for a 49-unit housing development was dismissed, protecting the area’s character, environment and biodiversity from a poorly located scheme.
• An 115-home proposal in Kent was dismissed, protecting the character and appearance of the local landscape, agricultural soils, and nearby designated habitats – including a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Protection Area – from harmful development pressure.

Previous CPRE analysis has demonstrated that there is enough previously developed land in England alone for more than 1.4 million homes.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England’s Policy Lead, Emma Marrington, said:

‘Removing this language from national policy silences the everyday landscapes that matter most to local communities – places that can be rich with nature yet have no official protection. The valued landscapes policy empowers councils to defend their local countryside against poor-quality development. That’s why it must be strengthened, not weakened. Once these places are lost, they are lost forever.’