Press Release (South Hampshire Group): 20th September 2011

CPRE's local planning campaign at full throttle

National policy changes would affect all areas of England

The Campaign to Protect Rural England's local district group members are engaged in a nationally high profile campaign to save our beautiful countryside. The campaign began on 25th July and is now entering its ninth week. 28 days are left (as at 20th Sept) in a countrywide consultation about the Government's proposed amendments to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) with a deadline for responses of 17th October 2011.

The national charity, CPRE is a lead campaigner in the fight to prevent far-reaching changes from reaking havoc on the landscape in years to come. Local CPRE members have contacted their MPs and district councillors in part of a coordinated campaign in this part of Hampshire.

CPRE South Hampshire group chair, Caroline Dibden, said today:

"In South Hampshire all our remaining areas of countryside and gaps are already under significant threat of development. West of Waterlooville is already under construction; plans for the SDA at Fareham have recently been accepted; and the Eastleigh SDA seems to be raising its head again. Over and above all these plans, the draft NPPF means that other sites which are being promoted by developers will be subject to application and test at appeal. If they are deemed "sustainable", and many of them could well be, then the Inspectorate will have no choice but to grant permission, irrespective of local wishes."

To write to your MP you can use a template letter prepared by CPRE Hampshire at www.cprehampshire.org.uk (RTF format for use with MS Word, Writer etc. - opens in new window) or go to http://bit.ly/p1FbsC for a template that you can personalise and send by email. To sign the petition please visit: https://www.planningforpeople.org.uk/.

Telephone Becky French at the CPRE Hampshire office on 01962 779185 with any questions.

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CPRE/H/218 (South Hampshire)

Notes to editors

1. More details on the proposed National Planning Policy Framework can be found at: http://bit.ly/pNluxz

2. CPRE Hampshire foresees the consequences of the new Framework as:

A top-down mandate to local authorities to approve development; the presumption has to be "yes", even if approval would override the Local Plan
No more protection of countryside for its intrinsic character and beauty
No more priority for brownfield to be used before greenfields are built on
The much vaunted 'Localism in planning' becomes meaningless - refusal by a local authority to reflect local views would easily be overturned on appeal
Transport grounds would not normally be a basis for refusal.

3. CPRE Hampshire strives to promote the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of the countryside of Hampshire by the sustainable use of land and other resources in town and country, and encouraging the biodiversity and well-being of rural communities.

For all media enquiries, please contact:
Keren Burney, media & communications officer, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01730 894123 Mobile: 07876 780065
Email: kburney@compege.co.uk

For information on CPRE, please contact:
Anthony McEwen, Director, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01962 779185 Mobile: 07717 296025
Email:anthony.mcewen@cprehampshire.org.uk