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[[link removed]]CAMPAIGNS UPDATE
December 2024

Dear John

As 2024 comes to an end, I wanted to share some of our highlights of the year.
From giving the countryside a voice during an era-defining election to
unravelling the rural affordable housing crisis (and laying bare the solutions),
we’ve achieved a lot together. But we couldn’t do it without your support.

In 2025, we'll be doubling down on our rooftop-first solar campaign, championing
the best use of our finite land, and holding the government to account: we need
bold action on housing, but that needn't come at the expense of our countryside
and natural world. For now though, we hope you enjoy reading about what we've
achieved this year.


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STRONG SUPPORT FOR ROOFTOP SOLAR
We continued to urge the government to unlock the power of rooftop solar as a
common-sense solution to provide cheap, clean energy while protecting our
countryside. Kicking off the year with a survey of over 2,600 CPRE supporters
[[link removed]] showed widespread support for rooftop solar on warehouses, industrial buildings
and new homes. Further CPRE analysis showed that the countryside is leading the way on rooftop solar generation
[[link removed]] , and our accompanying report
[[link removed]] gave examples of how countries around the globe have made rooftop solar a
reality.

AN ERA-DEFINING ELECTION
During the build-up to a monumental general election, we called on all parties to recognise the value of the countryside
[[link removed]] and the role it can play in tackling the many crises we face. In our manifesto
[[link removed]] , we urged the government to tackle the rural affordable housing crisis, reform
our planning system for people and planet, kickstart a rooftop solar revolution
and protect the countryside around our towns and cities.

HOW PLANNING SYSTEM CAN SUPPORT ENERGY TRANSITION
Throughout the year, we’ve been working with Aldersgate Group [[link removed]] and RenewableUK [[link removed]] to explore how our planning system can better support the delivery of clean
energy infrastructure while protecting nature and landscapes and ensuring
communities get a voice. The resulting report, launched in November
[[link removed]] , laid strong foundations for a pathway to net zero with several practical
recommendations made to government.

SHAPING CHANGES TO NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY
With Labour securing its first election victory in 20 years in July, it wasn’t
long before the focus was on planning. A consultation was announced
[[link removed]] on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and we made sure the voices
of the countryside were heard. Following a collaboration over several weeks with
our network of local CPREs, and a supporter survey, (which almost 1,000 of you
responded to), we published our response in September
[[link removed]] . We were clear about the changes we wanted to see in national policy:
ambitious plans for rooftop solar, targets for affordable and social homes, a
commitment to brownfield first and protecting our Green Belt, and making sure
that local voices are heard.

The new NPPF was published this week. We acknowledged some of the positives in our response
[[link removed]] but were disappointed with the lack of ambition on affordable housing, as well
as the decision to push forward with the ill-defined 'grey belt' classification.
Our housing market is broken; dominated by a cartel of large housebuilders who
are more interested in profit than delivering the affordable and sustainable
homes we need. Our message to the government is clear: we need bold action to
tackle the housing crisis, but that needn't come at the expense of our
countryside, farmland and natural spaces.

TAKING A STAND ON AFFORDABLE HOMES
This year, thousands of you stood with us for a countryside everyone can afford to live in
[[link removed]] . Several factors are fuelling the devastating housing crisis in our
countryside, from skyrocketing house prices and stagnating wages to a chronic
lack of genuinely affordable housing. Following our campaign launch, we
published a raft of case studies
[[link removed]] , telling the emotional stories of those who have fallen victim to the crisis,
as well as those who are working towards solutions. Our survey with YouGov
showed that opposition to new development halves if houses are affordable
[[link removed]] , showing that delivering the right homes for communities is not only the right
thing to do – but can pass through the planning system more smoothly.

But to tackle the crisis, we need to get to the root causes. With Labour aiming
to build 1.5m homes over the next five years, we’re calling for change. The big
housebuilders have called the shots for too long, stifling supply, driving
prices up and delivering poor-quality, unaffordable home to maximise their
profits. At the Labour Party Annual Conference this year, we joined forces with the Federation of Master Builders
[[link removed]] to host a panel discussion and produced a policy paper
[[link removed]] calling on the government to bring more small and medium-sized housebuilders
(SMEs) into the mix, which have a better track record of building affordable
homes in sustainable places.

OUR COUNTRYSIDE NEXT DOOR
Protecting and enhancing the Green Belt – the countryside around our towns and cities
[[link removed]] – is deeply important – to us all. We were pleased to see some commitment to
brownfield first in the Labour manifesto and will continue to put pressure on
government to make that a reality. In addition to strongly urging the government
to maintain its commitment to the Green Belt, we published a series of essays
celebrating what the Green Belt has to offer. The collection, called Perspectives on the Urban Edge
[[link removed]] , featured many influential voices, from Baroness Barbara Young to Dieter Helm,
professor of economic policy at Oxford University.

We asked you what you thought too. Our poll with YouGov
[[link removed]] showed that the vast majority value access to the countryside close to where
they live. It couldn’t be clearer that the Green Belt – the countryside next
door for millions – is deeply valued by people and can offer so much more in
addressing our climate and nature crises.

MAKING A LOCAL IMPACT
We couldn’t talk about our impact this year without mentioning our local groups.
CPREs across England work year-round to make a difference for their countryside,
and our third phase of Hedgerow Heroes was a perfect example of that, with 31km hedgerow planted or restored
[[link removed]] between 2023-4. But they didn’t stop there. Whether it was developing a 200 mile circular walk around Greater Manchester
[[link removed]] , creating rooftop solar mapping tools,
[[link removed]] or running traditional haymaking events
[[link removed]] , our local groups made a huge impact in 2024, connecting people to the
countryside as well as working to protect and enhance it.

THANK YOU
Thank you for every donation you make, every petition you sign, every action you
take and every email you read. Together, we stand for the countryside – a place
that means so much to all of us, in so many different and powerful ways. Your
contributions amplify our voice, and make sure we can put the issues – and the
solutions – right in front of government. But don't just take our word for it - here's a video of our president, Mary-Ann Ochota, thanking all of our members,
supporters and volunteers
[[link removed]] .

With your continued support, we can achieve even more in 2025. There are more
pressures on our countryside than ever, but we also know that the countryside
holds many of the solutions to the crises we face. We’ll make sure this is at
the heart of our work next year and beyond.

May I also take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for this festive
season, and for 2025.


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Best wishes,

Roger

Roger Mortlock

Chief Executive


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CPRE is funded by donations from people like you. Together, we can help our
beautiful countryside thrive, for everyone’s benefit - now and for generations
to come.

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CPRE campaigns for a better future for the English countryside. We work locally
and nationally to promote, enhance and protect a beautiful, thriving countryside
for everyone to value and enjoy. Founded in 1926, we’re a grassroots
organisation, with more than 100 local groups, a branch in every county and
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