CPA News Archive: 2023
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December 20th, 2023
CPA Press release on the new NPPF, published yesterday
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"Today’s announcement of new planning rules is an end to a year of uncertainty which has paralysed local authority plan-making. It represents a shift which is cautiously welcomed by the Community Planning Alliance.
Local authorities will now have more flexibility to set their housing targets, which is good news, However, it is disappointing that the starting point for housing numbers is still based on nearly ten-year old population projections, despite a significant slowing in population growth, and that this will not now be reviewed until 2025.
The new rules include many things which we have been campaigning for. We’re delighted to see best agricultural land given greater protection and a shift in emphasis away from building in the countryside towards brownfield and urban intensification. Not only does this approach protect treasured green field land, but it contributes to a much more sustainable model of development instead of the car-dependent sprawl we sadly so often see.
Proposals of inappropriate density can now be rejected by councils, and councils will no longer be forced to review their green belts.
In a system which too often puts communities last, we are optimistic that these new rules may lead to less unchecked development and housing that is more often in the right places."
Local authorities will now have more flexibility to set their housing targets, which is good news, However, it is disappointing that the starting point for housing numbers is still based on nearly ten-year old population projections, despite a significant slowing in population growth, and that this will not now be reviewed until 2025.
The new rules include many things which we have been campaigning for. We’re delighted to see best agricultural land given greater protection and a shift in emphasis away from building in the countryside towards brownfield and urban intensification. Not only does this approach protect treasured green field land, but it contributes to a much more sustainable model of development instead of the car-dependent sprawl we sadly so often see.
Proposals of inappropriate density can now be rejected by councils, and councils will no longer be forced to review their green belts.
In a system which too often puts communities last, we are optimistic that these new rules may lead to less unchecked development and housing that is more often in the right places."
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November 20th, 2023
CPA Chairman Rosie Pearson in The Telegraph on Labour announcements on the Green Belt
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Ripping up red tape, building on the green belt and bulldozing the blockers. That is Sir Keir Starmer’s plan for quicker and cheaper infrastructure delivery and more houses.
However, in a speech at the start of this month to the North East Chamber of Commerce the Labour leader conspicuously left out any mention of how his building plans would affect nature, net zero or wildlife. In fact, his only two references to the environment were to bemoan the environmental red tape around the Sizewell C nuclear power station project.
It betrays a lack of concern for our green and pleasant land ..............
To read the rest of the article see link below (behind paywall)
However, in a speech at the start of this month to the North East Chamber of Commerce the Labour leader conspicuously left out any mention of how his building plans would affect nature, net zero or wildlife. In fact, his only two references to the environment were to bemoan the environmental red tape around the Sizewell C nuclear power station project.
It betrays a lack of concern for our green and pleasant land ..............
To read the rest of the article see link below (behind paywall)
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October 19th, 2023
CPA Chair Rosie Pearson guest appearance on Have We Got Planning News for You
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HWGPNFY is an online show hosted by eminent planning barristers Charlie Banner KC, Mary Cook, Paul Tucker KC, Sasha White KC & Chris Young KC
They came together in lockdown to raise money for the NHS, have a laugh and hopefully entertain. Each week, the panel discuss the latest developments in planning law and policy from the week.
They invite a special guest from the most influential ranks of the Planning World, and host a special topic each week from Garden Cities to Planning Reform.
As they say, the views expressed by their guests do not necessarily represent the views of the panellists. So do listen in to what Rosie had to say on the planning world and how it could be improved for local communities.
They came together in lockdown to raise money for the NHS, have a laugh and hopefully entertain. Each week, the panel discuss the latest developments in planning law and policy from the week.
They invite a special guest from the most influential ranks of the Planning World, and host a special topic each week from Garden Cities to Planning Reform.
As they say, the views expressed by their guests do not necessarily represent the views of the panellists. So do listen in to what Rosie had to say on the planning world and how it could be improved for local communities.
YouTube Link to Rosie's appearance: youtu.be/hdKXg8eOzXw
Link to HWGPNFY: https://havewegotplanningnewsforyou.com/
Link to HWGPNFY: https://havewegotplanningnewsforyou.com/
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October 12th, 2023
CPA Chairman Rosie Pearson in The Express on Labour announcements on planning
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Keir Starmer seeks to bulldoze everything and everyone. At a stroke, he is dismissing the very genuine concerns that local people have about the impact of housing on the environment and infrastructure or services.
It is a misguided approach. He will simply find stiffer opposition and more legal challenges.
In reality, though, his housing proposals make it hard to distinguish Labour from the Conservatives.
For one thing, 1.5m new homes over a five-year parliament, is the same target as the Conservatives: 300,000 per annum. They have not achieved that and nor will Mr Starmer. That’s because he does not understand how developers think or how things need to be funded.
He wants to build social housing. Great news! In the much discussed ‘housing crisis’, it’s the one and a half million people on the social housing waiting list who face a real crisis.
So will Labour be funding homes for these people? No. Just like the Conservatives, Labour wants the private sector to do the heavy lifting. It is a tried, tested and failed approach.
Labour wants to build new towns. New towns are easy to talk about. The Conservatives have been trying to build them (disguised as garden towns) for years. But a new town is very complex and expensive to deliver.
The bigger the development you build, the more infrastructure it needs.
In financial terms, new towns sink themselves under the weight of their own infrastructure. Developer contributions cannot pay for that, so the government will have to intervene.
There are three recent examples illustrate the pitfalls: Ebbsfleet Garden City in Kent which has needed a £200 million pound government injection and yet many of the public transport promises have not been delivered.
Or in North Essex, a new ‘town’ at Colchester which required government funding to build a link road but will now see only a short spur road.
Or you end up with a giant housing estate with no soul, such as 20,000-home Northstowe, Cambridgeshire, which has been described as a ghost town.
With modern new towns, there is always a mismatch between the original promises and the dismal reality.
Building on ‘grey land’ is Labour’s third big idea. It appears to refer to wastelands near urban areas or in the green belt. This is, on the whole, a sensible approach, so long as each site is assessed on its own merit.
Some of the ‘scrub’ land that Labour has its eye on is a species rich wonder-habitat, as, in fact, are many brownfield sites.
Mr Starmer can get on his bulldozer but he will not deliver 1.5 million homes. He won’t build a single new town and sadly, he will not do what should be the most natural Labour thing to do – support the needy with a funded social housing programme.
Rosie Pearson
Chairman
It is a misguided approach. He will simply find stiffer opposition and more legal challenges.
In reality, though, his housing proposals make it hard to distinguish Labour from the Conservatives.
For one thing, 1.5m new homes over a five-year parliament, is the same target as the Conservatives: 300,000 per annum. They have not achieved that and nor will Mr Starmer. That’s because he does not understand how developers think or how things need to be funded.
He wants to build social housing. Great news! In the much discussed ‘housing crisis’, it’s the one and a half million people on the social housing waiting list who face a real crisis.
So will Labour be funding homes for these people? No. Just like the Conservatives, Labour wants the private sector to do the heavy lifting. It is a tried, tested and failed approach.
Labour wants to build new towns. New towns are easy to talk about. The Conservatives have been trying to build them (disguised as garden towns) for years. But a new town is very complex and expensive to deliver.
The bigger the development you build, the more infrastructure it needs.
In financial terms, new towns sink themselves under the weight of their own infrastructure. Developer contributions cannot pay for that, so the government will have to intervene.
There are three recent examples illustrate the pitfalls: Ebbsfleet Garden City in Kent which has needed a £200 million pound government injection and yet many of the public transport promises have not been delivered.
Or in North Essex, a new ‘town’ at Colchester which required government funding to build a link road but will now see only a short spur road.
Or you end up with a giant housing estate with no soul, such as 20,000-home Northstowe, Cambridgeshire, which has been described as a ghost town.
With modern new towns, there is always a mismatch between the original promises and the dismal reality.
Building on ‘grey land’ is Labour’s third big idea. It appears to refer to wastelands near urban areas or in the green belt. This is, on the whole, a sensible approach, so long as each site is assessed on its own merit.
Some of the ‘scrub’ land that Labour has its eye on is a species rich wonder-habitat, as, in fact, are many brownfield sites.
Mr Starmer can get on his bulldozer but he will not deliver 1.5 million homes. He won’t build a single new town and sadly, he will not do what should be the most natural Labour thing to do – support the needy with a funded social housing programme.
Rosie Pearson
Chairman
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September 5th, 2023
CPA releases our new manifesto
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We have over 600 campaigns/campaigners active in the planning system on our UK map. We've released a manifesto for 2023 and 2024 to help shape policy and thinking.
With a general election due in 2024, and politicians already taking to the airwaves with wild promises about how to ‘sort out planning’, we felt it was time to dust down, and update, our own manifesto. Our supporters are a broad church. We are all united in facing a planning system that is not easy for communities to navigate, and are extremely worried about the impact of developments of all types on our ability to mitigate the climate emergency, on human health and on green spaces, habitats and wildlife. Beyond that, everyone faces unique issues.
Our manifesto attempts both to cover all bases but not to creep beyond planning.
With a general election due in 2024, and politicians already taking to the airwaves with wild promises about how to ‘sort out planning’, we felt it was time to dust down, and update, our own manifesto. Our supporters are a broad church. We are all united in facing a planning system that is not easy for communities to navigate, and are extremely worried about the impact of developments of all types on our ability to mitigate the climate emergency, on human health and on green spaces, habitats and wildlife. Beyond that, everyone faces unique issues.
Our manifesto attempts both to cover all bases but not to creep beyond planning.
Read our manifesto here: 2023 Manifesto
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June 19th, 2023
CPA writes to the Prince of Wales about his plans for social housing and ending homelessness
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Today we wrote to the Prince of Wales following press articles about his plans to end homelessness and how he was influenced by his mother. The letter is below:
"It was with great pleasure that we read (Sunday Times, 18 June) of your aim to end homelessness, and in particular of your focus on social housing, even on the Duchy of Cornwall estate.
As a volunteer-run community planning organisation with 700 campaigns registered on our UK-wide map, we are all too aware that the housing crisis as portrayed in the media and by politicians is not the true crisis. The crisis is one for those who are homeless, sofa surfing, on the housing waiting list or in temporary accommodation.
We see that invariably the housing that is built is far from affordable for those people, even when described as affordable under planning terminology. That is because the planning system provides for ‘discounted’ homes, at 20% below market price, which are out of reach to all of those truly in need, or Shared Ownership, which is also out of reach for those in greatest need and becomes progressively more unaffordable for the ‘owner’ as time goes by.
You will be all too aware that the supply of new social housing is woefully inadequate. In 2021-22 only 7,500 homes were built for social rent, and overall social home numbers fell by 14,000 due to the right to buy. Council & housing association homes are down 165,000 in the past decade. We therefore congratulate you on recognising the real problem.
We would like to urge you to consider the following:
Once again, we would like to thank you for your energy and determination to address the real housing crisis and, if there is anything we can do to assist via our community networks, we stand by.
Yours sincerely,
Rosie Pearson
Chairman"
"It was with great pleasure that we read (Sunday Times, 18 June) of your aim to end homelessness, and in particular of your focus on social housing, even on the Duchy of Cornwall estate.
As a volunteer-run community planning organisation with 700 campaigns registered on our UK-wide map, we are all too aware that the housing crisis as portrayed in the media and by politicians is not the true crisis. The crisis is one for those who are homeless, sofa surfing, on the housing waiting list or in temporary accommodation.
We see that invariably the housing that is built is far from affordable for those people, even when described as affordable under planning terminology. That is because the planning system provides for ‘discounted’ homes, at 20% below market price, which are out of reach to all of those truly in need, or Shared Ownership, which is also out of reach for those in greatest need and becomes progressively more unaffordable for the ‘owner’ as time goes by.
You will be all too aware that the supply of new social housing is woefully inadequate. In 2021-22 only 7,500 homes were built for social rent, and overall social home numbers fell by 14,000 due to the right to buy. Council & housing association homes are down 165,000 in the past decade. We therefore congratulate you on recognising the real problem.
We would like to urge you to consider the following:
- Community need - ensure that what is built meets local needs and is built in collaboration with local people. It is important to redress the process imbalance in relation to community input. In rural areas in particular, genuinely affordable housing will play an essential part in keeping our villages and countryside vibrant and thriving. Villages should grow proportionately, with local involvement. Rural exception sites will afford one route whereby genuinely affordable housing can be delivered.
- Almshouses – the oldest and most genuinely affordable form of social housing, in perpetuity! On our committee, two of us have experience as trustees of an almshouses charity, and the benefits this type of accommodation brings are many and varied.
- Community Land Trusts - should play a strong part in delivering for housing need.
Once again, we would like to thank you for your energy and determination to address the real housing crisis and, if there is anything we can do to assist via our community networks, we stand by.
Yours sincerely,
Rosie Pearson
Chairman"
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June 20th, 2023
East Suffolk Planning Alliance (EPSA) forms strategic alliance with CPA
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ESPA, formed in February 2023 across the region amongst local communities and parish councils, seeks greater community participation in the planning system in East Suffolk. ESPA believes that local communities should be at the heart of planning decisions and be recognised as stakeholders in that decision-making process. ESPA shares many of the core values of CPA and recognises that a significant synergy exists between the two organisations which strengthen and reinforces their respective aims and objectives.
Spokesperson, Gerry Bremner, from the steering group, for ESPA, said:
"The growth of ESPA since its inception has been remarkable and has demonstrated a resonant consensus with the people of East Suffolk. The recent Local Elections in Suffolk were of historic importance. The significant swing away from the previous administration towards policies looking to engage with local communities over planning issues and the protection of the environment in East Suffolk and across Suffolk is a loud cry for change from the electorate.
Local people want and have the right to a meaningful say in what happens to the area they live in and not to have these decisions imposed upon them as a result of a tilted bias towards landowners and developers working with local authorities. ESPA is excited about working with the CPA to create a more democratic approach that empowers parish councils and local communities to work in partnership to do what is right for their region … localpeople making the right decisions for the right reasons and in the best interests of the people of East Suffolk”
Rosie Pearson, Chairman of CPA adds:
"It is really exciting to see ESPA growing at such a pace and galvanising parish councils to work together. Communities need all the help they can get in the face of a planning system which imposes the wrong type of development in the wrong places and rides roughshod over the opinions of residents. Sadly all too often this happens at the hands of local councils. Instead, a collaborative approach is needed. Planning must be done with people, not to them. Our two organisations are both run by volunteers and both share many aims and we believe that other campaign groups in other regions may be able to learn from ESPA's model.
We look forward toworking with them".
Spokesperson, Gerry Bremner, from the steering group, for ESPA, said:
"The growth of ESPA since its inception has been remarkable and has demonstrated a resonant consensus with the people of East Suffolk. The recent Local Elections in Suffolk were of historic importance. The significant swing away from the previous administration towards policies looking to engage with local communities over planning issues and the protection of the environment in East Suffolk and across Suffolk is a loud cry for change from the electorate.
Local people want and have the right to a meaningful say in what happens to the area they live in and not to have these decisions imposed upon them as a result of a tilted bias towards landowners and developers working with local authorities. ESPA is excited about working with the CPA to create a more democratic approach that empowers parish councils and local communities to work in partnership to do what is right for their region … localpeople making the right decisions for the right reasons and in the best interests of the people of East Suffolk”
Rosie Pearson, Chairman of CPA adds:
"It is really exciting to see ESPA growing at such a pace and galvanising parish councils to work together. Communities need all the help they can get in the face of a planning system which imposes the wrong type of development in the wrong places and rides roughshod over the opinions of residents. Sadly all too often this happens at the hands of local councils. Instead, a collaborative approach is needed. Planning must be done with people, not to them. Our two organisations are both run by volunteers and both share many aims and we believe that other campaign groups in other regions may be able to learn from ESPA's model.
We look forward toworking with them".
Email: ESPA - [email protected]
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June 15th, 2023
CPA Submission to Strategy and Policy Statement for Energy Policy in Great Britain
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In June 2023 the government held a consultation on its policy for the delivery of energy infrastructure and how to provide the legal framework for planning decisions. The link to the consultation page and the accompanying policy statements, the link is here:
www.gov.uk/government/consultations/planning-for-new-energy-infrastructure-revisions-to-national-policy-statements
CPA supports various local groups who have concerns about the impact of energy infrastructure on their local environment. Our submission mentions them and asks that the strategy should ensure that the environment and communities are fully considered and included. This iteration of the strategy neglects the environment and communities, whereas the 2011 guidance did take them into account. The 2011 guidance on the environment and communities must be carried through in this new strategy and policy statement and in addition it must be updated to reflect more recent environmental legislation.
Communities must be involved at the earliest stages of project consideration.
www.gov.uk/government/consultations/planning-for-new-energy-infrastructure-revisions-to-national-policy-statements
CPA supports various local groups who have concerns about the impact of energy infrastructure on their local environment. Our submission mentions them and asks that the strategy should ensure that the environment and communities are fully considered and included. This iteration of the strategy neglects the environment and communities, whereas the 2011 guidance did take them into account. The 2011 guidance on the environment and communities must be carried through in this new strategy and policy statement and in addition it must be updated to reflect more recent environmental legislation.
Communities must be involved at the earliest stages of project consideration.
OUr Submission: CPA Submission
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April 26th, 2023
Hedges and Trees are under attack - Please help us
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UPDATE: On July 12th CPA made a submission to DEFRA in reponse to its consultation on protecting hedgerows
cpa_response_to_defra_consultation_on_protecting_hedgerows_jul23.pdf
The news has been awash with horrific stories of hedges and trees being destroyed🌳🌲🍂🪺.
The UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world and yet protection for hedges and trees is clearly insufficient. We need YOUR help to understand the true scale of this issue before we can engage with the relevant bodies.
If you know of any trees or hedgerows that are at risk of destruction OR have been recently destroyed, we would be grateful if you could share the details via this short survey.
If you wish to share photos, please send them to [email protected] with location in the header title.
And Channel 4 featured the risk to hedgerows on April 27th in their evening news, with CPA being mentioned:
www.channel4.com/news/how-britain-is-losing-essential-hedgerows-in-the-midst-of-a-biodiversity-crisis
Any personal data collected will be kept strictly confidential and securely stored in accordance with our Privacy Policy (available at the bottom of this website).
cpa_response_to_defra_consultation_on_protecting_hedgerows_jul23.pdf
The news has been awash with horrific stories of hedges and trees being destroyed🌳🌲🍂🪺.
The UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world and yet protection for hedges and trees is clearly insufficient. We need YOUR help to understand the true scale of this issue before we can engage with the relevant bodies.
If you know of any trees or hedgerows that are at risk of destruction OR have been recently destroyed, we would be grateful if you could share the details via this short survey.
If you wish to share photos, please send them to [email protected] with location in the header title.
And Channel 4 featured the risk to hedgerows on April 27th in their evening news, with CPA being mentioned:
www.channel4.com/news/how-britain-is-losing-essential-hedgerows-in-the-midst-of-a-biodiversity-crisis
Any personal data collected will be kept strictly confidential and securely stored in accordance with our Privacy Policy (available at the bottom of this website).
Survey link is: HERE
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April 23rd, 2023
CPA's submission to the Commons Levelling-up Committee on planning reform
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Our submission is available here and in summary states that we support in general the aims of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (LURB), for a genuinely plan-led system, stronger voice for communities, community infrastructure by developers, clear design standards that reflect community views, enhanced protections for our precious environmental and heritage assets. The aims of the Community Planning Alliance are for greater community participation, better environmental protections and right homes, jobs and infrastructure in the right places.
We welcome the changes proposed in the NPPF which reduce the impact of the presumption in favour of development under paragraph 11d, because the changes redress a balance that gives house-builders too much power. By reducing the pressure on councils, a plan-making system will be more likely to prevail.
We welcome the changes proposed in the NPPF which reduce the impact of the presumption in favour of development under paragraph 11d, because the changes redress a balance that gives house-builders too much power. By reducing the pressure on councils, a plan-making system will be more likely to prevail.
If you want to read all of the submissions, including from the development industry, they are available here: committees.parliament.uk/work/7281/reforms-to-national-planning-policy/publications/written-evidence/
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February 14th, 2023
CPA urges all campaigners to respond to Government's NPPF consultation
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Government has proposed a host of changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). A lot of their proposals are positive ones, but many - particularly those that will affect the environment - do not go far enough.
The development industry is highly concerned about the changes, meaning they will be responding in droves. It is therefore imperative that as many campaigners as possible - both individuals and groups - submit a response to the public consultation, before the March 2nd deadline!
Read our full guide here: communityplanningalliance.org/nppf-consultation
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February 7th, 2023
CPA Webinar: The NPPF Consultation - what do you need to know?
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Our first webinar of 2023, held on February 7th, was designed to help us consider the proposed changes to the NPPF, as outlined in the Government consultation running until March 2nd.
Our four excellent speakers were:
- Rosie Pearson, CPA Chair, who introduced the consultation and then focused on the good, the bad and the missing
- Gareth Capner, Planning Consultant, who highlighted some key points about the 'Standard Method'
- Caroline Dibden, CPA Committee Secretary, who covered what the development sector and others are saying about the proposed changes
- Catriona Riddell, Planning Consultant, who focused on the removal of the 'Duty to Cooperate' and why strategic planning is good for communities.
For those wishing to submite a response to this consultation, NPPF tracked changes can be found here, and Government's description of changes can be found here.
View the recording here: youtube.com/watch?v=8MeWr1jD1dU
