News

The Planning & Infrastructure Bill is set to curb the role of local planning committees and place new limits on local democracy.

A new briefing published by CPRE sets out how government proposals to limit local planning committees will harm democratic oversight without addressing the real causes of the housing crisis.  To read more and to download the briefing go to

Split into two parts, “How to respond to Planning Applications” starts with a clear introduction to the English planning system. It breaks down planning jargon and key phrases to help the public better understand how the planning system works and describes how planning applications are assessed.  Part two sets out eight key steps for meaningfully and positively engaging with planning applications…

The government has published the Planning and Infrastructure Bill as part of its commitment to ‘get Britain building.’

The new Planning and Infrastructure Bill is an opportunity to ensure key infrastructure and genuinely affordable rural homes are built in the right places.

However, delivering this requires transforming the housing market alongside planning reform. Without it, more…

The government has announced a consultation on an update to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The NPPF is a 78-page document which acts as the rulebook for planning. It advises local authorities and developers on what they can and cannot do when planning developments and includes a range of policies that ultimately determine what gets built where. CPRE will be submitting a full response…

In late January we objected to a planning application for a solar farm at Abbotsley, near St Neots. 

Our main concern was the loss of “Best and Most Versatile” (BMV) agricultural land - at least 81 % of the site is Grade 3a and above. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) guides development away from "best and most versatile' agricultural land – Local Planning Authorities are advised…