Latest News - February 2012
Jump to: Map shows Doncaster... , NEW! planning guides
Feb 7th 2012 Map shows Doncaster at risk
Our national office has launched a report with detailed new maps showing that 55 per cent of England’s countryside could be at increased risk from development as a consequence of the Government’s reforms of the planning system. This equates to an area almost three-and-a-half times the size of Wales.
Excluding areas with nationally recognised designations, such as National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), as well as Green Belt, we found that the majority of England’s countryside could be at increased risk of development and urban sprawl. For decades English planning policy has recognised the intrinsic value of the wider countryside, including undesignated areas. The draft National Planning Policy Framework, which is due to be finalised shortly, omits this policy.
In Doncaster, the figures confirm what we've has long feared.
The Doncaster map clearly illustrates how 42% of land in the borough will be unprotected if the National Planning Policy Framework goes ahead as it is. The east of Doncaster is still not protected by green belt. If the NPPF goes ahead unchanged then areas that are valued by local communities will be at even greater risk from speculative building and development.”
There is much loved – but undesignated countryside – across the whole of South Yorkshire. We want to see the Government recognizing its value. We don’t want a national policy that prevents all development, but we do want decision makers to take account of the intrinsic value of our countryside for its own sake when they are considering development proposals in the future.
Feb 6th 2012 NEW! planning guides
A series of new guides and events are now available to help lead you through the planning labyrinth and explain the latest Government reforms to the English planning system. Three new pocket guides make it clear how you can influence the future of the area in which you live. They detail how you can contribute to both neighbourhood and local plans, and describe how to respond to planning applications.
There is also a new free eLearning programme which includes short courses that examine the step-by-step processes outlined in the guides using real world scenarios.
A series of local training events being run across the country by local branches of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the National Association of Local Councils (NALC). The events are taking place between now and the end of March.
CPRE knows that the first contact many people have with the planning system is when something they don’t like is proposed on their doorstep. But we want people to understand why they should get involved in the planning system before something like this happens. In this way engaging with planning can be a positive experience. We want people to help shape their communities proactively and be a part of deciding what changes they want to see in their area. Following the recent planning reforms, the best way to do this is by contributing to their local and neighbourhood plans.
The Guides
How to respond to planning applications: an 8-step guide
A 61 page A5 booklet that gives an easy to follow, step-by-step guide to responding to a local planning application. For many this will be the first time they come into contact with the planning system. This guide aims to make the process simple, straight forward, and help any submissions to have the largest and most effective impact.
Planning Explained
A 69 page A5 booklet that gives an introduction to the planning system and explains why it is important if you want to help decide the future of your community. The guide focuses on the role of Local Plans, where the big decisions on planning for the future of communities and land are made. It includes an eight step guide on how to get involved and contribute to your local plan.
How to shape where you live: a guide to neighbourhood planning
A 61 page A5 booklet that focuses on the role of Neighbourhood Plans. It explains their purpose and gives a simple eight step guide on how to start drafting an effective Neighbourhood Plan.
