Hi John

Fantastic news! Last night the government conceded to pressure from parliamentarians and the public on a range of key planning issues we’ve been campaigning on for years [1]. 

These wins are a huge victory for the countryside, including: 

• An abandoning of damaging, centralised mandatory housing targets that have led to needless, unaffordable and poorly designed greenfield developments, in favour of an advisory system that takes local character and need into account 
• An end to landbanking – the practice developers use to sit on land they have acquired permission for while it accrues in value - a huge cause of the lack of housing being actually built 
• Stronger regulation of the short-term holiday lets market that’s been crippling many rural communities – from greater council tax charges to a new registration scheme for holiday lets 
• Local authorities given greater powers to promote brownfield development, and a wider review into brownfield development 

These and other successes will be built into the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, currently going through parliament. They are the result of years of campaigning and research that you have been a central part of, culminating in an unstoppable backbench rebellion that saw the government cave in to our demands. 

Today is a day the countryside, and the communities living within it, can breathe a sigh of relief. But from local democracy to rural affordable housing, nature protection to the climate emergency, there’s still a lot of work to do to truly ensure the Levelling Up Bill truly creates a planning system that has people, the countryside and the climate at its heart. 

With the next debate on the Bill expected within the coming week, can you help by donating to this critical campaign today? 

In the past two years, we’ve been working extremely closely with lead backbench rebels Theresa Villiers and Bob Seely, ensuring they were able to make the strongest possible case to the government.  

Likewise, we have – and will be - working closely with the Labour frontbench and supportive Peers in the House of Lords to ensure critical amendments on issues such as environmental protection, climate change and permitted development rights (that bypass usual planning processes) are carried through in the final Bill. 

This victory has shown that together, we can make a difference. But I'll be honest with you, we don’t have the resources of larger charities - we’re only as strong as the support you can give us. 

Can you help us at this crucial time by making a donation today?

Thanks for all your help so far. With the fast-paced environment we’re operating in, we’ll be in touch very soon with future actions you can take. 

All the best, 

Mark 

Mark Robinson
Campaigns Officer | CPRE The countryside charity