Planning

Latest: The government consultation on the National Planning Framework has now closed. CPRE Hampshire has submitted a detailed 38-page response to the consultation. Read it here (pdf).

In September CPRE Hampshire's chairman said: "It is very bad. Outside our national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty there would be no piece of Greenfield land in Hampshire that would be safe from building." He urges those who value the countryside to write to their MP - see press release.

Good land-use planning is key to environmental protection and has always been one of CPRE Hampshire's top campaigning priorities. We have a well established planning group that deals with the wider planning concerns in Hampshire. Our Planning in Hampshire page gives more information on our planning work, current issues and how we can help.

Act Now To Save Our Beautiful Landscape

The Hampshire countryside is facing a new threat. The government has recently published a draft National Planning Policy Framework. CPRE Hampshire, like the National Trust and other environmental bodies, has responded vigorously to the Framework and urges everyone who values Hampshire's beautiful landscape to keep up the pressure. Join us in this battle for our children's legacy.

There are three easy steps to make your views known:

Send a letter to your local MP and local councillors - click here for a template letter (RTF format for word processing) or click here template for emailing your MP
Support our Hampshire campaign by joining CPRE Hampshire - see our leaflet and application form (PDF)
Sign up to the National Trust petition (link takes you to the National Trust petition website).

Thank you for you support. See also:

CPRE Hampshire's briefing: 10-point summary :: Briefing in full (pp2 PDF)
CPRE Hampshire Press Releases: 20 Sep - 11 Aug
CPRE Press Release (national) :: CPRE planning charter (PDF).

Charter for Planning Reform

CPRE has recently launched its charter for planning reform: Making localism work for the countryside. The 4 page leaflet welcomes the coalition's government plans for a radical reform of the planning system. CPRE has long called for more public involvement in planning. The charter lists 9 key points including giving more weight to parish plans, a countryside that is valued and a sound evidence base.

Issued by CPRE national office, you can read the charter here (PDF).

Housing

We spend much of our time responding to proposals for major developments where the housing numbers are beyond what is sustainable or needed locally. A major concern of ours is that many people cannot afford to buy homes in the countryside. CPRE Hampshire is highlighting the need for affordable housing in Hampshire.

Read full article :: Go to housing campaign home

Local Planning

Following the government's scrapping of the South East Plan, local authorities now have much more say about planning issues in their area. Local plans are being developed through Local Development Frameworks (LDFs). An LDF contains Local Development Documents, a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and will incorporate a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Sounds complicated? It is, but it is important for CPRE to review and provide inputs to these documents. Getting our concerns addressed at the front end of the planning process is much more effective than fighting rearguard actions on individual plans.

Go to LDF page - See also Parish Planning

Eco-Towns: Are They Really So Eco?

building site The last government announced a list of sites for potential 'eco-towns'. One of these is the proposed Whitehill/Bordon eco-town on a former Ministry of Defence site. Although a brownfield site and an opportunity to create sorely needed facilities, there remain problems with infrastructure and transport. John Venning's article outlines the pros and cons of this proposed eco-town (May 2009).

Whitehill-Bordon pros and cons

SHUV (South Hampshire's Unheard Voices)

SHUV (South Hampshire's Unheard Voices) is an alliance of community groups originally formed to oppose the (now defunct) regional plan to build 80,000 homes in south Hampshire. There remain proposals for major developments such as 10,000 houses in the Fareham Strategic Development Area.

SHUV home page

A Mega-shed Near You?

bulldozer There have been several proposals in our area to develop large distribution warehouses. One is on the site of Andover airfield, now restyled the Andover Business Park. Another was just over the border at Greenham in West Berkshire where the traffic would flow onto the A339 Basingstoke-Newbury road. CPRE has campaigned vigorously against these development where they are totally out of scale with their rural environment.