The Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales are among the protected landscapes increasingly under threat from major development schemes as a result of the government’s changes to the planning system, claim rural conservation campaigners.
Evidence from CPRE branches across England demonstrates that there is a growing threat to our most important landscapes from inappropriate development.
CPRE writes:
The case studies in our report are a snapshot of the most significant current threats to National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We have also highlighted the dangers faced by landscapes that lack national protection but are, nevertheless, deeply valued by local communities. Government policies mean that National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), which should have the highest level of protection in planning, are increasingly threatened by damaging developments. The development proposals fall broadly within four categories: energy; housing; transport and tourism.
Cases highlighted in our report include the recent permission for 521 houses in the Kent Downs AONB and the cumulative visual impact of wind farms surrounding the Lake District National Park. Threats to locally valued landscapes include a proposed new 20km dual carriageway in open countryside in Norfolk, and a theme park in Swinley Forest, Berkshire.
We are calling on the Government to:
· strengthen national planning policy by giving greater weight to the protection of nationally designated and locally valued landscapes;
· recognise the contribution that National Parks and AONBs make to our economy and review cuts to their funding in advance of the imminent Spending Review;
· produce guidance for the Planning Inspectorate on implementing the major development test in National Parks and AONBs;
· ensure that requests for applications to be ‘called in’ by the Department for Communities and Local Government are dealt with in line with the major development test in the National Planning Policy Framework;
· exempt National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty from the proposed changes to permitted development rights concerning the conversion of farm buildings; and
· review the draft planning policy guidance to ensure that best use can be made of the new Local Green Space designation.
CPRE is also calling for an urgent Parliamentary Select Committee Inquiry to review how major development is dealt with in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in order to protect and enhance their beauty for future generations.
Four ways you can help to stop England’s collective masterpiece being vandalised:
Sign CPRE’s charter to save our countryside
Our charter is asking for better protection for the countryside, a fair say for local communities in planning for the places where they live and work, and more housing – but of good quality and in the right places.
Ask your friends to sign our charter
Tell your friends you have signed our charter with our e-card masterpiece. It will only take a few minutes and it will help spread the word. The more signatures we have, the more public support we can demonstrate to the Government to show them that the reformed planning system is not working.
Support our campaign with a donation
CPRE face a huge challenge to stop this thoughtless and unnecessary destruction. Please support our dedicated staff and volunteers today by making a donation. Your gift will give them the best possible chance of defending our beautiful landscapes and help ensure developers are driven towards previously developed brownfield land and that more affordable houses are built, but in the right places.
?Join CPRE and help your local group
Take a look at the case studies from our research, are there areas under threat where you live? CPRE has a local group in every county, standing up for the countryside. By joining your local CPRE group you could help fight local campaigns and make a difference where you live.
Find out more using the report, map and case studies at: LINK
CPRE Article: LINK
Search Planning Resource: LINK
