planning
Decisions, decisions: how does planning work during the pandemic?
Wednesday 24 February 2021
The Covid-19 crisis has curtailed public involvement in almost all aspects of life, so it is important for us all to see that fairness and the democratic process do not suffer as a result, as a CPRE planner explains… Are you still getting your say at planning committee? Since Saturday, April 4, 2020, councils have […] Read more >
Village to grow by hundreds of homes as out-of-date Local Plan proves critical
Tuesday 26 January 2021
Lack of both an up-to-date Local Plan and an adequate supply of housing land has proved costly for an Essex village, which is to have almost 450 homes built on unallocated sites. Planning inspectors have overturned refusal – or non-determination – by Uttlesford District Council of two schemes at Elsenham. Inspector David Wildsmith allowed Fairfield […] Read more >
Councillors revolt over government plans to dismantle planning system
Thursday 10 December 2020
CPRE, the countryside charity, and Friends of the Earth are joining more than 2,000 local councillors to call on the government to rethink its planning proposals and work with locally-elected representatives to create the places and homes communities so desperately needed. A total of 2,062 local councillors have called on the government to abandon the […] Read more >
Planning system should recognise – and compensate – efforts of those fighting for our countryside
Thursday 26 November 2020
David Knight, CPRE Essex chairman, calls for donations by land agents to charities when they win planning permission for development proposals. Perhaps such a scheme would make them think twice before making speculative applications… Since becoming chairman of CPRE Essex, one of the things that never fails to impress me is the dedication and professionalism […] Read more >
Planning White Paper: we write to the county’s MPs
Thursday 19 November 2020
The government’s Planning for the Future White Paper is a potential nightmare for our countryside (see here). CPRE Essex has already made a substantial contribution to the government consultation on the White Paper (see here) and now has written to each of the county’s MPs detailing serious concerns ranging from loss of countryside to threat […] Read more >
Planning White Paper: the national CPRE response
Wednesday 11 November 2020
We have already referred to the government’s Planning for the Future White Paper and CPRE Essex’s response to it (see here). The White Paper could prove potentially devastating for the English countryside and so it’s unsurprising that CPRE branches across the country have been quick to raise their concerns. Here is the national CPRE submission to […] Read more >
Read the CPRE Essex response to consultation on proposed planning changes
Thursday 5 November 2020
Consultation on the second major tranche of proposed changes to the planning regime closed on Thursday, October 29. CPRE Essex raised serious concerns over the proposals, which would see a significant increase in the amount of rural land that would have to be allocated for housing. Further, people would see a drastic reduction in their […] Read more >
CPRE responds to planning consultation that could spell destruction for our countryside
Thursday 8 October 2020
The government’s Changes to the Current Planning System consultation could result in a devastating assault on the Essex countryside through soaring housebuilding targets… as if they weren’t already high enough! Now CPRE has produced its response to the consultation and you can read it here. At almost 9,700 words, you might not want to tackle […] Read more >
Please sign our petition to government: don’t deregulate planning
Thursday 24 September 2020
The government has devised some new plans that could pose a huge risk to the countryside and the communities living and working within it. Ministers want to take decision-making powers away from communities and local councils, handing it over to housing developers and central powers in Westminster. Under these new proposals, our ability to shape […] Read more >
Planning for the Future: London Green Belt Council welcomes countryside protections but fears for local democracy
Thursday 6 August 2020
The London Green Belt Council, of which CPRE Essex is an associate member, has described government proposals for reform of the planning system as “a mixed bag”. It applauds the provision of some countryside protection in the Green Belt and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty but is disheartened by the threat to local democracy and […] Read more >