Campaigns Update

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 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, and our accompanying report gave examples of how countries around the globe have made rooftop solar a reality. 

During the build-up to a monumental general election, we called on all parties to recognise the value of the countryside and the role it can play in tackling the many crises we face. In our manifesto, 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.  

Throughout the year, we’ve been working with Aldersgate Group and RenewableUK 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, laid strong foundations for a pathway to net zero with several practical recommendations made to government.  

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 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. 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 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. 

This year, thousands of you stood with us for a countryside everyone can afford to live in. 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, 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, 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 to host a panel discussion and produced a policy paper 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. 

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.

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.  

Best wishes,

Roger

Roger Mortlock

Chief Executive