CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England)
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| CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Campaign to Protect Rural England |
| Founded | 1926 |
| Type | Charity |
| Headquarters | London |
| Focus | Rural conservation, planning, landscape protection |
CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) is a British charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing the English countryside. Founded in 1926, it engages in advocacy, research, and local campaigning to influence planning, transport, and land-use decisions. CPRE works with a range of institutions, NGOs, and statutory bodies to shape policy and public debate about rural landscapes.
History
The organisation traces its origins to post-World War I concerns about urban expansion and industrial development, linking to debates involving figures associated with the Garden city movement, John Nash (architect), Ebenezer Howard, and contemporaneous conservation groups such as the National Trust (United Kingdom), Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Early campaigns intersected with legislation like the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 and discussions at forums attended by representatives from the Congested Districts Board and the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. Throughout the mid-20th century CPRE engaged with policymakers at the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, collaborated with architects linked to the Arts and Crafts movement, and responded to infrastructure projects championed by advocates of the Interwar period road-building programmes. In the late 20th century CPRE addressed issues raised by the Countryside Commission, the House of Commons, the European Union environmental directives, and inquiries involving the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.
Mission and Activities
CPRE's mission centres on protecting landscapes associated with the Cotswolds, Lake District, South Downs National Park, and other designated areas while engaging with statutory frameworks such as the National Planning Policy Framework and institutions like the Local Government Association. Activities encompass research published for stakeholders including members of the House of Lords, officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, planners at county councils, and academics from universities such as University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, and University of Sheffield. It organises campaigns that intersect with transport debates involving the Highways Agency, agricultural policy discussions linked to the Common Agricultural Policy, and conservation initiatives involving the Environment Agency.
Campaigns and Policy Influence
CPRE has campaigned on issues including brownfield and greenbelt protection, responding to proposals connected with the South East Plan, the Thames Gateway, and major infrastructure schemes like those promoted by the High Speed 2 project and runway expansions involving Heathrow Airport. The charity has submitted evidence to inquiries at the Planning Inspectorate, engaged with select committees of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, and collaborated with organisations such as the Campaign for National Parks, Friends of the Earth, and the RSPB. Its influence is visible in debates over instruments such as Local Plans (England), designations of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and revisions of the National Infrastructure Commission recommendations.
Structure and Governance
CPRE is governed by a board comparable to trusteeships found in charities like the National Trust (United Kingdom), with officers liaising with bodies such as the Charity Commission for England and Wales and councillors from county councils including Cornwall Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Leadership has at times included figures drawn from civic institutions like the Royal Society, academia linked to the London School of Economics, and former civil servants from the Department for Communities and Local Government. Its governance model reflects practices observed in organisations including the RSPB and Plan International.
Funding and Partnerships
Funding sources include membership subscriptions, grants from foundations comparable to the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and trusts like the Heritage Lottery Fund, philanthropic donations from individuals, and partnership projects with agencies such as the Environment Agency and municipal authorities like Cambridge City Council. CPRE has received project funding aligned with programmes administered by the Big Lottery Fund and engaged in collaborative research with institutions like Natural England and the Landscape Institute.
Regional and Local Branches
CPRE operates through a network of county and local branches across regions including Sussex, Devon, Yorkshire, Norfolk, and Surrey, mirroring the decentralised structures of bodies such as the Royal Horticultural Society and the Federation of Small Businesses local networks. These branches liaise with district councils like Brighton and Hove City Council and parish councils in rural districts, and coordinate volunteer campaigns with local civic societies, conservation trusts, and resident associations.
Impact and Criticism
CPRE's impact includes contributions to the protection of greenbelt land, influence on designation of national parks such as the South Downs National Park, and campaigning outcomes related to planning decisions reviewed by the Planning Inspectorate and contested in cases heard at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and lower tribunals. Critics have argued, in forums involving commentators from outlets such as The Guardian (London daily newspaper), The Times (London), and policy analysts associated with think tanks like the Institute for Public Policy Research and the Adam Smith Institute, that CPRE's positions can conflict with housing delivery targets promoted by organisations like the National Housing Federation and local authorities. Debates over prioritisation of conservation versus development continue in parliamentary inquiries and civic debates involving MPs, peers in the House of Lords, and campaign groups across the English countryside.