Advocating for Better Planning: CPRE’s Support and Resources

At CPRE, we strive for communities that nurture both people and nature, offering access to essential amenities for a high quality of life. Our focus on planning aims to shape government policies to create vibrant, well-designed communities with adequate housing, efficient transport, and easy access to work, leisure, and nature.

Influencing National Policy: Through rigorous research, evidence provision, and engagement with government bodies and supporters, we advocate for improved planning on a national scale. We actively participate in consultations, develop innovative policy solutions, and campaign for increased countryside access through national policy changes.

Why we influence national policy
Our policy development and research help to influence decision-makers and promote our causes at a national level.

We campaign for better planning by:

• Carrying out research and providing evidence
• Engaging with government, its agencies, and other NGOs, as well as our supporters
• Responding to national consultations and inquiries
• Developing and promoting innovative policy solutions and a long-term vision for a better planning system
• Campaigning for national policy solutions to increase access to the countryside

Empowering Local Influence: At the grassroots level, local CPRE branches play a vital role in advocating for community-driven planning initiatives. They engage with local development proposals, influence the creation and execution of Local Plans, contribute to strategic plans, lead campaigns on specific issues, and provide valuable data for national campaigns.

Six Tests for Planning: Collaborating with other organizations, we’ve devised six essential criteria to evaluate new planning regulations, ensuring they prioritize both people and nature. These tests utilise the government’s own language from its Planning White Paper, offering a comprehensive assessment of planning visions.

The Six Tests for Planning were initially created in 2021, in collaboration with other organisations, in response to the Government’s Planning for the Future White Paper. As well as detailing joint concerns with the planning proposals, the tests laid out what we believe the government must do to establish a gold-standard planning system that works for people and nature.

Whilst the proposals within the White Paper have largely been dropped, we believe the 6 tests remain applicable to our on-going work in securing a planning system fit for the 21st century and therefore, will continue to scrutinise future plans through this lens.

All plans should be scored red, amber and green against each of the six tests.

1 – Local democracy and community engagement
In the PWP the government has an ambition to build a society that has powerful links between identity and place.

To reflect that, we want to see plans retain and enhance genuine and accessible community participation and accountability throughout the planning process in all areas.

2 – Affordable housing and developer contributions
The PWP emphasises the need for affordable housing, it recognises the potential of affordable homes to address social inequalities.

We ask the government to deliver an evidenced strategy to build genuinely affordable homes, incentivize build-out, and provide local authorities with the power to turn down developments which don’t deliver affordable housing.

3 – Climate and sustainable development
The PWP proposes to maximise suitable brownfield land while building energy-efficient homes.

The test asks to see acceleration of climate action to meet the UK’s net zero targets and UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring that local planning authorities are empowered to deliver ambitious, climate-friendly developments.

4 – Biodiversity and natures recovery
The PWP emphasises that the planning system is central to improving biodiversity and maximising environmental benefits.

This means protecting sites important for biodiversity and nature’s recovery and requiring fit-for-purpose contributions for nature from all developments.

5 – Beauty and heritage
The PWP outlines that the planning system must protect and preserve our architectural heritage and historic buildings and areas, with a greater focus on placemaking.

To reflect this, there needs to be conservation, safeguarding, and enhancement of heritage and designated landscapes against inappropriate development, aided by robust data collection, appropriate resourcing and strong community participation.

6 – Health and wellbeing and access to natural green spaces
The PWP acknowledges that where we live impacts our physical and mental health and will tackle issues such as placement of trees and high-quality cycling and walking provision.

The test asks to see embedded human health, wellbeing and equality in the planning system, including priorities for access to natural green space, active travel and reducing air pollution.

See the full document, which includes a summary of the score card and descriptions of each test. It sets out ways to measure the success of new planning with concerns regarding the new policy outlined in the PWP and reflective indicators of success for each test.

Planning System Basics: Navigating planning processes can be daunting. To assist, we’ve curated resources explaining planning fundamentals, including a training video and a glossary of terms, empowering individuals to understand and influence local planning decisions effectively.