planning
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 >
‘Pitiful’ on carbon-neutral new homes and failing to build trust in the planning system: CPRE responds to ‘once-in-a-generation’ reforms
Thursday 6 August 2020
CPRE, the countryside charity, has launched a wide-ranging criticism of “once-in-a-generation reforms” to the country’s planning system proposed by the government today (Thursday, August 6). Described as “landmark reforms to speed up and modernise the planning system and get the country building”, the changes proposed in the Planning for the Future White Paper fail to […] Read more >
CPRE slates government’s proposals for planning deregulation
Tuesday 14 July 2020
The government’s proposed planning reforms could amount to “the exact opposite of building back better”, CPRE believes. Downing Street says its proposals are “the most radical reforms to our planning system since the Second World War”. Amended planning rules, due to be in place by September, would permit: Developers to “demolish and rebuild” vacant and […] Read more >
Planning and democracy during the Covid-19 pandemic: letter to the county’s planners
Thursday 25 June 2020
Among so many issues we have all had to confront during the Covid-19 lockdown, the manner in which the planning process is conducted has been of particular concern to CPRE Essex. To ensure our local authorities are aware that we are as alert as ever, and hopefully to encourage them to engage in full, open […] Read more >
Remember localism? Now prepare to meet zonal planning and development corporations
Tuesday 16 June 2020
If you thought the planning system was already loaded in favour of developers, things might be about to get a whole lot worse. The government is reportedly considering a ‘zonal planning system’ in which “key decisions will be taken from local councils and handed to development corporations”. Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister’s chief adviser, is […] Read more >
Overwhelmed by the scale of development in Essex? Here we help you understand quite what is going on
Monday 13 May 2019
Many of us are aware that the natural beauty of our glorious county of Essex is threatened like never before. We experience it through the constant grind of cement-mixers and bulldozers, but sometimes the bureaucratic process is not so clear. Here CPRE Essex planning expert Michael Hand casts some light on what is driving the […] Read more >
Setting up the planning system to fail
Wednesday 1 May 2019
Richard Bate, planning professional and long-time CPRE supporter, delivers a withering analysis of government housing policy How often have you heard it said that if only the planning authorities would release more land for housing, then the builders would build more houses and prices would come down? This is the fundamental belief across the government […] Read more >