Major Changes to Britain’s planning system are long overdue, but experts warn vital protections for nature are at risk of being eroded.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is calling on ministers to reinstate ‘valued landscape’ regulations to the National Planning Policy Framework. The heavily delayed paper will set out far-reaching new rules for development in England, and has been the subject of intense debate for well over a year now.
Critics are warning the latest revision of the document downplays the importance of protecting the character of rural settings, which poses a particular threat to places which do not lie within protected landscapes but do boast scenic views and unspoilt rural elements.
Recent planning proposals which have been dismissed due to the existing ‘valued landscapes’ rule include:
- A proposal in Herefordshire for polytunnels and 18 static caravans was dismissed, protecting the setting of nearby historic castles, the local landscape character, and the River Lugg/River Wye protected area from the risks of floodwater pollution.
- A proposal in Berkshire for a 49-unit housing development was dismissed, protecting the area’s character, environment and biodiversity from a poorly located scheme.
- A 115-home proposal in Kent was dismissed, protecting the character and appearance of the local landscape, agricultural soils, and nearby designated habitats – including a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Protection Area – from harmful development pressure.
According to the CPRE, there is enough previously developed land in England to build more than 1.4 million without resorting to using the green belt.
‘Removing this language from national policy silences the everyday landscapes that matter most to local communities – places that can be rich with nature yet have no official protection,’ said The Campaign to Protect Rural England’s Policy Lead, Emma Marrington. ‘The valued landscapes policy empowers councils to defend their local countryside against poor-quality development. That’s why it must be strengthened, not weakened. Once these places are lost, they are lost forever.’
Image: Sandy Millar / Unsplash
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