The Latest CPA News - at your fingertips
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February 11th, 2025
CPA asks everyone to join the #TeamBat #TeamNewt campaign
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The government has recently used some very aggressive rhetoric about bats and newts being the blockers to many aspects of growth and planning. We have responded with the #TeamBat #TeamNewt campaign as we do not believe that the government is correct and that in any event, these animals along with all of nature, need our protection.
We're planning a National #TeamBat #TeamNewt Day in the spring, watch this space!
We're planning a National #TeamBat #TeamNewt Day in the spring, watch this space!
Click here to buy T-shirts, caps and badges
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January 22nd, 2025
CPA asks government to
'Make Nature a Stakeholder' |
Community Planning Alliance responded to the government's proposals to tear up environmental regulations that might stand in the way of building in their pursuit of growth.
Nature and biodiversity are not just a nice-to-have, nor can you save the world from climate change by tearing up habitats for 'green projects'. Nature is fundamental for our, our children's and our grand-children's survival and must become a formal stakeholder in policy decisions.
Growth fanaticism will end in tears, and it is a worry that instead of protecting existing biodiversity, the big environmental organisations may roll-over at the scent of money for creating new habitats in other places unrelated to the site of development.
Nature and biodiversity are not just a nice-to-have, nor can you save the world from climate change by tearing up habitats for 'green projects'. Nature is fundamental for our, our children's and our grand-children's survival and must become a formal stakeholder in policy decisions.
Growth fanaticism will end in tears, and it is a worry that instead of protecting existing biodiversity, the big environmental organisations may roll-over at the scent of money for creating new habitats in other places unrelated to the site of development.
Click here for our summary paper
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December 11th, 2024
CPA Releases New Report:
'Homes for Everyone' The report, with foreword by Chris Packham, argues that the countryside is at grave risk from a government hellbent on achieving its sky-high targets |
Our new report challenges the government’s proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), expected imminently, which would force councils to accept development on green spaces to meet nationally-set goals, and allow objections based on protecting nature to be overruled. It would also reclassify ‘grey belt’ land within the Green Belt.
Drawing on analysis from leading planners, environmental scientists, and housing experts, we argue that the government’s plans, taken alongside its New Towns programme, will have profoundly damaging consequences for Britain’s countryside and its efforts to reach Net Zero, while doing little to lower prices or address the chronic shortage of social housing that has left 150,000 children currently living in temporary accommodation.
Building on green spaces would destroy vital natural defences against climate change, including carbon sinks such as trees, hedges, and soil, while directly threatening wildlife habitats. The government’s drive to sacrifice Britain’s green spaces in pursuit of its housebuilding targets would also increase pollution. Research also shows that building 300,000 homes a year, even with an energy efficiency drive, would use up the entirety of the UK’s carbon budget by 2050.
Instead, we argue that not a single green space needs to be lost to housing, pointing to the millions of homes available on brownfield land, in empty, derelict houses and commercial buildings, and in the nation's 26 million spare bedrooms.
Chris Packham, Wildlife TV Presenter & Campaigner, said: “We have a housing crisis, there’s no doubt about that, but we have a biodiversity crisis too and that situation is critical. The Green Belt is incredibly important, it was designed to stop urban sprawl and enhance the quality of people’s lives. We need to think more creatively about how we can design and build good quality, affordable housing with communities and nature in mind.”
Rosie Pearson, Co-Founder of the Community Planning Alliance, added: “This is a litmus test for the new Labour government which, despite being hellbent on hitting its sky-high, developer-led housing targets, must not sacrifice the environment. The vast majority of UK voters believe it’s important to protect nature and green spaces, which should be a last resort only for housebuilding. Our ‘Homes for Everyone’ report demonstrates that there are clear ways to meet housing needs without destroying the countryside or worsening climate change.”
New polling by More in Common commissioned for this report reveals overwhelming public support for green space protection.
CPA is proposing a six-point strategy for government and councils, including:
Drawing on analysis from leading planners, environmental scientists, and housing experts, we argue that the government’s plans, taken alongside its New Towns programme, will have profoundly damaging consequences for Britain’s countryside and its efforts to reach Net Zero, while doing little to lower prices or address the chronic shortage of social housing that has left 150,000 children currently living in temporary accommodation.
Building on green spaces would destroy vital natural defences against climate change, including carbon sinks such as trees, hedges, and soil, while directly threatening wildlife habitats. The government’s drive to sacrifice Britain’s green spaces in pursuit of its housebuilding targets would also increase pollution. Research also shows that building 300,000 homes a year, even with an energy efficiency drive, would use up the entirety of the UK’s carbon budget by 2050.
Instead, we argue that not a single green space needs to be lost to housing, pointing to the millions of homes available on brownfield land, in empty, derelict houses and commercial buildings, and in the nation's 26 million spare bedrooms.
Chris Packham, Wildlife TV Presenter & Campaigner, said: “We have a housing crisis, there’s no doubt about that, but we have a biodiversity crisis too and that situation is critical. The Green Belt is incredibly important, it was designed to stop urban sprawl and enhance the quality of people’s lives. We need to think more creatively about how we can design and build good quality, affordable housing with communities and nature in mind.”
Rosie Pearson, Co-Founder of the Community Planning Alliance, added: “This is a litmus test for the new Labour government which, despite being hellbent on hitting its sky-high, developer-led housing targets, must not sacrifice the environment. The vast majority of UK voters believe it’s important to protect nature and green spaces, which should be a last resort only for housebuilding. Our ‘Homes for Everyone’ report demonstrates that there are clear ways to meet housing needs without destroying the countryside or worsening climate change.”
New polling by More in Common commissioned for this report reveals overwhelming public support for green space protection.
- 78 per cent of people believe it is important for the government’s housebuilding strategy to protect nature and green spaces, only four per cent believe it is not important.
- Support is consistent among Labour (83%), Conservative (86%), Liberal Democrat (85%), Reform (83%) and Green Party (84%) voters.
- 69 per cent support a ‘brownfield-first’ policy, with just six per cent opposing.
CPA is proposing a six-point strategy for government and councils, including:
- Update brownfield land registers and prioritise suitable sites for housing. CPRE’s Reports suggest enough land exists for over 1.2 million homes, with additional potential for more than 100,000 homes above public car parks, according to Knight Frank
- Bring empty homes back into use. Over 1.5m unoccupied dwellings could be retrofitted or renovated to avoid needless carbon emissions associated with new construction
- Review unused commercial and public buildings and convert them into residential units. Currently 165,000 privately-owned commercial and business premises remain empty
- Better promote its £7,500 tax-free ‘Rent a Room Scheme’. Renting out just 1.74% of 26 million empty bedrooms could see rent prices return to 2017 levels
- Adopt density principles in local plans. It would be possible to save 42,000 hectares, an area the size of the Isle of Wight
- The government must focus on the one million homes that have been granted planning permission but remain unbuilt
Click here for our Homes for Everyone Report
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December 3rd, 2024
CPA Submits Evidence to Environmental Audit Committee
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Community Planning Alliance responded on 3rd December 2024 to the UK Parliament Environmental Audit Committee who asked for evidence on the Government's proposed new NPPF.
Our submission states that CPA does not believe that the revised NPPF will support the protection and enhancement of the environment. The approach taken by the Government to setting housing policy risk placing growth and targets above all other factors, at great risk to the natural environment. The environment is barely an afterthought and, instead of setting policy that aims to meet the need for homes (as opposed to demand) while also protecting the environment, Government has placed the onus squarely on meeting un-evidenced housing targets that do not solve the housing crisis.
Our assertion, in a paper due to be published soon, is that we can have homes for everyone (people and nature included) long before we have to tap into our precious green spaces. This can be done by insisting on a greenfield last approach in which greenfield can only be built on once a council has demonstrated that it has renovated empty homes, repurposed commercial buildings, encouraged letting of rooms in houses, reused all brownfield land, maximised density and seen the majority of planning permissions built out. Clearly this will need support and financing from the Government.
We note that, while Labour’s manifesto pledge was for 1.5m homes, its proposed Standard Method results in 1.85m homes and that, in addition to this, there will be new towns of 10,000 homes or more. As far as we are aware, there has been no Sustainability Appraisal for the proposed NPPF, the Standard Method, for the new towns, nor for the cumulative impact of these initiatives.
Sustainable development will only be achieved if communities are fully engaged and the Community Planning Alliance can provide insights, expertise and experience from the 700 campaigns registered on our map.
Our submission states that CPA does not believe that the revised NPPF will support the protection and enhancement of the environment. The approach taken by the Government to setting housing policy risk placing growth and targets above all other factors, at great risk to the natural environment. The environment is barely an afterthought and, instead of setting policy that aims to meet the need for homes (as opposed to demand) while also protecting the environment, Government has placed the onus squarely on meeting un-evidenced housing targets that do not solve the housing crisis.
Our assertion, in a paper due to be published soon, is that we can have homes for everyone (people and nature included) long before we have to tap into our precious green spaces. This can be done by insisting on a greenfield last approach in which greenfield can only be built on once a council has demonstrated that it has renovated empty homes, repurposed commercial buildings, encouraged letting of rooms in houses, reused all brownfield land, maximised density and seen the majority of planning permissions built out. Clearly this will need support and financing from the Government.
We note that, while Labour’s manifesto pledge was for 1.5m homes, its proposed Standard Method results in 1.85m homes and that, in addition to this, there will be new towns of 10,000 homes or more. As far as we are aware, there has been no Sustainability Appraisal for the proposed NPPF, the Standard Method, for the new towns, nor for the cumulative impact of these initiatives.
Sustainable development will only be achieved if communities are fully engaged and the Community Planning Alliance can provide insights, expertise and experience from the 700 campaigns registered on our map.
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August 1st, 2024
CPA Comments on the New NPPF:
Targets on Steroids, Affordable and Infrastructure Promises on Placebos |
We’ve tested Labour’s planning proposals against our three campaign principles and are very concerned that the drive for growth will not result in homes for those most in need, protections for the environment or the necessary infrastructure to support the huge proposed increase in homes.
Exuberant celebrations from the development lobby indicate who is most likely to benefit. The lack of understanding of how the system works means we risk a huge increase in car-dependent, infrastructure-last greenfield developments without appropriate levels of affordable housing, leaving brownfield undeveloped. Housing targets are on steroids, while the promises remain on placebos.
Exuberant celebrations from the development lobby indicate who is most likely to benefit. The lack of understanding of how the system works means we risk a huge increase in car-dependent, infrastructure-last greenfield developments without appropriate levels of affordable housing, leaving brownfield undeveloped. Housing targets are on steroids, while the promises remain on placebos.
Click here for CPA Comments
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July 10th, 2024
CPA Writes to New Labour Ministers
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The Community Planning Alliance seeks to bring together communities campaigning against inappropriate development so that they can support each other, ensure consultation regulations are followed and initiate positive change that benefits citizens (not shareholders).
As an organisation, we seek:
On the subject of community participation, Labour leadership must understand that communities are not "blockers" as they do not have the power to prevent development. "Nimby" is a pejorative term that is used to undermine those with genuine concerns about planning proposals. Instead, let’s see moves towards co-creation and engagement for positive outcomes.
When it comes to the environment, we need the Labour leadership to provide direction through a focus on sustainability, nature, biodiversity and climate change in their proposals for planning. It is imperative that all policy changes adhere to the Environmental Principles policy statement which sets out how to support environmental protection and enhancement, with the aim being to leave the world in a better state. Pandering to developers who wish to build on irreplaceable habitats, best and most versatile agricultural land, and other sites of ecological or environmental importance should be unconditionally discouraged.
And finally, we need the Labour leadership to bring more affordability to housing. However, relying on the private sector to deliver will bring neither numbers nor affordability.
New towns will need public funding to succeed, infrastructure (including sustainable passenger and freight transport, school places, green spaces and health services) must be delivered in advance of those growth plans. Nationally significant infrastructure projects should be delivered with full engagement before decisions are made and in accordance with the Treasury Green Book guidelines, to ensure best outcomes for tax-payers.
When planning for development, there is always a balance to be struck. Growth is only one side of the scales. Climate mitigation, nature's recovery and future food security must also be considered.
Sustainable development will only be achieved if communities are fully engaged and the Community Planning Alliance can provide insights, expertise and experience from the 600 campaigns registered on our map.
As an organisation, we seek:
- greater participation for communities in planning
- greater environmental protections
- the right developments & infrastructure in the right places.
On the subject of community participation, Labour leadership must understand that communities are not "blockers" as they do not have the power to prevent development. "Nimby" is a pejorative term that is used to undermine those with genuine concerns about planning proposals. Instead, let’s see moves towards co-creation and engagement for positive outcomes.
When it comes to the environment, we need the Labour leadership to provide direction through a focus on sustainability, nature, biodiversity and climate change in their proposals for planning. It is imperative that all policy changes adhere to the Environmental Principles policy statement which sets out how to support environmental protection and enhancement, with the aim being to leave the world in a better state. Pandering to developers who wish to build on irreplaceable habitats, best and most versatile agricultural land, and other sites of ecological or environmental importance should be unconditionally discouraged.
And finally, we need the Labour leadership to bring more affordability to housing. However, relying on the private sector to deliver will bring neither numbers nor affordability.
New towns will need public funding to succeed, infrastructure (including sustainable passenger and freight transport, school places, green spaces and health services) must be delivered in advance of those growth plans. Nationally significant infrastructure projects should be delivered with full engagement before decisions are made and in accordance with the Treasury Green Book guidelines, to ensure best outcomes for tax-payers.
When planning for development, there is always a balance to be struck. Growth is only one side of the scales. Climate mitigation, nature's recovery and future food security must also be considered.
Sustainable development will only be achieved if communities are fully engaged and the Community Planning Alliance can provide insights, expertise and experience from the 600 campaigns registered on our map.
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January 19th, 2024
CPA Chairman Rosie Pearson in The Telegraph on why "Planners shouldn't be getting abused - but neither should the people who oppose them"
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How would you feel if evidence that had been painstakingly prepared by your campaign group was ignored by council planners for six years, leading to a failed local plan costing taxpayers millions of pounds? The answer is probably: infuriated, angry and frustrated.
So when I heard about a new campaign to persuade the public to support planners, rather than abuse them, my first thought was: “Hang on, why are they making us public enemy number one, here?”.............
To read the rest of the article see link below (behind paywall)
So when I heard about a new campaign to persuade the public to support planners, rather than abuse them, my first thought was: “Hang on, why are they making us public enemy number one, here?”.............
To read the rest of the article see link below (behind paywall)