“I have carefully considered all the points made by the City Council and other participants, including those made at the Procedural Meeting and to the City Council’s response. Taking everything into account, I have decided that the City Council’s suggested changes, along with the associated supporting evidence and suggested timetable provides a positive way forward to completing the examination. In coming to my decision, I particularly note that national policy in PPS12 emphasises the importance of producing core strategies in a timely and efficient manner, since this is essential for the supply of housing and other development land to meet need, and is related to the local government performance framework."

He goes on: "However, my decision is subject to several important qualifications. Firstly, I will expect the City Council to complete the necessary work and supporting material associated with the suggested changes to the Core Strategy before the consultation commences. This will enable other participants to understand the basis for the suggested changes and make full comments at the consultation stage..."

He continues: "Secondly, before the hearings recommence, I will need to have information on the latest position on the legal challenges to the South East Plan RSS…"

He goes on: "Thirdly, I understand that the City Council intends to undertake full consultation on the suggested changes to the Core Strategy and supporting material, so that anyone can make representations on the suggested changes, not merely those who have already made representations or have been involved in the examination and/or hearings….”

He concludes: "I propose to review the future progress of the examination once the consultation period has closed. When the City Council and I have had an opportunity to consider the representations, I will confirm whether the hearing sessions are to resume, and outline the matters for discussion at these sessions…"

We can therefore expect the next step is for the City to publish for full consultation the suggested changes to the Core Strategy and supporting material. The consultation on the suggested changes will begin on 9th April and will last 6 weeks.

CPRE Oxfordshire have made it crystal clear to all parties that we think doing this in the run up to the local and General elections is totally unacceptable if the City want to reclaim some credibility for this whole strategy.

The Inspector has emphasised that before the EIP hearing itself can resume, he has to be satisfied about a number of important matters.

CPRE note he states “whether the hearings are to resume”. We feel there must be a serious question after this tortuous process whether a “sound” plan can now emerge.

The Hearings are due to recommence (if confirmed) in early July.

March: Complex planning issues face the Green Belt site at Water Eaton.

Complex planning issues face the Green Belt site at Water Eaton where Chiltern Railways hope to build a major new Parkway station to serve Oxford.

While CPRE supports the broad objectives of the Evergreen3 Scheme, i.e., in promoting more sustainable travel and improving local rail capacity, we are concerned that much of the development at and adjacent to Water Eaton is within the Oxford Green Belt.

The Water Eaton site was already complicated, with the park-and-ride, the aggregates depot, and the Grundons MRF proposal to replace the grain silo — which was approved in principle in 2008.
It is of serious concern to CPRE that to make space for the new station Chiltern propose to relocate the aggregates depot to a new site alongside the railway taking Green Belt agricultural land and that the proposed MRF may have to be displaced altogether to another Green Belt site.

The scheme would also intensify the “urbanisation” of the narrow gap between Kidlington and Oxford, when one of the fundamental aims of Green Belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open.

CPRE are calling for early clarificiation of what can be reasonably accommodated on the Water Eaton site without compromising the Green Belt.

See letter from Helena Whall to Oxford Times (18 March).
See: Oxford Times (11 March).

March 12th: CPRE responds to Oxford City Council's letter to the Inspector of the Examination in Public of the Core Strategy.

Following the Procedural Meeting on 9 February 2010, the City Council, on 3 March, made public its response to questions raised by the Inspector at the meeting regarding the Core Strategy.

CPRE and other stakeholders to the Examination in Public were given the opportunity to respond to the City Council's letter to the Inspector by 12 March.

CPRE remains extremely concerned at the apparent pressures from Government and the City Council to expedite the EIP process, when in the circumstances there are strong arguments for a radical re- think of the Core Strategy by the City, rather than attempt to progress a very flawed document - especially as the current Local Plan runs to 2016. The Inspector has already outlined the main issues at the conclusion of the Procedural Meeting in February.

Given the litany of revisions so far, and the additional round of changes now proposed by the City, we seriously question whether the current process retains any real credibility and whether further “tinkering” to the current Core Strategy document is acceptable to the majority of local stakeholders.

We reiterate our view that no Examination hearings should be convened until the SE Plan Consent Order is finally agreed by all parties and issued (this is probably within weeks of being resolved now) and it is also clear that DCLG do not intend to make any other alterations to the published SE Plan. All participants can then understand fully the final SE Plan policies under which the Core Strategy must be considered. Any other course of action would be illogical and unreasonable.

We note the City’s suggested changes to wording, but contend that the issue is far more fundamental than that in terms of requiring a rigorous re-think of the Core Strategy in light of the changed Regional /SubRegional Plan context, the changed national economic context, and the issues surrounding the problematic Housing/ Jobs “balance”. If 4,000 out of 12,000 houses for the City are now deleted, we contend this must have a radical bearing on a range of policies.

CPRE also reiterates our request that Inspector Fenton’s findings from the adjourned EIP are published as soon as is practicable – in some shape or form - so that all participants can fully understand the context for any views the new Inspector may have on the Core Strategy.

See: CPRE's full response here.

February 10th: CPRE calls on City to start again on its Core Strategy.

Following the delay of the Examination in Public of the City's Core Strategy, due to the legal challenge to the South East Plan by CPRE and others, a Procedural Meeting was held yesterday at the Town Hall. The Inspector’s basic remit was to ascertain if there was any realistic prospect of resuming the EIP whilst the legal challenges against the SE Plan and the South of Oxford SDA in the Green Belt were still unresolved.

CPRE had already submitted its arguments in writing. Our position is that it is not logical or reasonable to carry on with the EIP until the full results of the legal challenges are known to all parties to the EIP and everyone is clear about the SE Plan policies as they affect Oxford’s Core Strategy and the Central Oxfordshire subregion as a whole.

The parties to the meeting could roughly be divided into those who opposed carrying on with the EIP, mainly local amenity and residents groups, and those who felt that some progress could be achieved notwithstanding the legal action, including the City, GOSE, and various commercial interests.

We felt that the Inspector dealt with a very difficult set of circumstances in a very skilful way and addressed all the important questions.

Three big issues were central to the discussion:

There are still significant uncertainties over the outcome of the legal challenges over the SE Plan and removal of the South of Oxford SDA, in terms of what the outcomes may be and the timescales;

Many of those present were very critical over the inadequate levels of consultation by the City Council on the present Core Strategy;

There are now very strong arguments for the City Council to start again and re-think the Core Strategy, with fresh rounds of consultations.

In summing up the Inspector made it very clear to the City Council that there were many significant issues for them to address if they still felt it was possible to carry on with the EIP. He also spelled it out that many people felt “they ought to start again”, and there were many things to put right, with both the Strategy and the evidence base behind it, if they wished to continue. Removal of the South of Oxford SDA could clearly affect a number of proposals in the Core Strategy including the Northern Gateway.

We hope that, having heard what the Inspector has said, the City will now reflect on this and have the good sense to cut its losses, and undertake a radical re- think of the Core Strategy, rather than attempt to progress a very flawed and discredited document.

In this way a fresh document can emerge which takes full account of the revisions to the SE Plan, as well as other issues raised by the EIP so far, and better consultations can take place so that the Core Strategy will, ultimately, gain more public support.

The Inspector will make an official note of the meeting available within two weeks. Oxford City will provide a written response outlining their possible timetable for progressing the EIP, which will be made public. The Inspector’s final decision on completing the Core Strategy EIP can be expected in a “matter of weeks”.

See: CPRE's response.
See: City Council's Examination website here.

January 28th: First major national survey of the environmental state of Green Belt land and the benefits it provides for people and wildlife is published today by CPRE and Natural England.

Natural England and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) have joined together today to publish Green Belts: a Greener Future. This is the first major national survey of the environmental state of Green Belt land, and the benefits it provides for people and wildlife. Together, Green Belts cover 13% of the land surface of England and 30 million people live in or next to a Green Belt.

New research, presented in this report, concludes that the Oxford Green Belt, established over fifty years ago, and covering 66,868 hectares, is a vital environmental asset. It is:

the best means of protecting the Oxfordshire countryside from urban sprawl;
a valuable resource in providing space for people to exercise and enjoy peace and quiet;
a large area of truly rural landscape on the edge of our historic city;
important for agriculture; and
of growing importance for wildlife.

However, Oxford’s Green Belt remains under constant threat from inappropriate development, including: the proposed urban extension into the Green Belt south of the City, for a mixed development of at least 4,000 houses; the proposed Northern Gateway scheme which could include two parcels of Green Belt land; and the proposed development of Green Belt land around Wheatley and Berinsfield in South Oxfordshire.

CPRE and Natural England have agreed a series of actions that we need to take to improve Oxford’s Green Belt, through:

continuing to uphold existing Government planning policy which restricts new development in the Green Belt;
focusing on better and more co-ordinated land management to help the Green Belt deliver vital environmental services – such as attractive landscapes, wildlife rich habitats, places for recreation, healthy soils, fresh water, woodland and improved air quality;
maintaining and improving the Green Belt as part of an ecological network between the city, the surrounding countryside, and nationally important landscapes; and
encouraging more public use of the Green Belt, while maintaining the Green Belt’s open, rural character (the Oxford Green Belt Way allows city residents to walk the Green Belt and get there and back by public transport).

In a press release, issued on 28 January, Helena Whall, Campaign Manager for CPRE Oxfordshire, said: “By protecting land from development, the Oxford Green Belt has protected the setting of the historic city of Oxford and prevented the uncontrolled urban sprawl witnessed in many other cities. This report shows that the Green Belt is much more than a planning designation. It is a vital environmental resource than can help with the production of locally grown food, support wildlife and provide breathing places for city dwellers and others.”

Helena Whall concluded: “The report confirms that the countryside around the city of Oxford is a vital, but fragile, environmental asset. It underpins what we at CPRE have been saying for decades – that we must continue to not only defend, but strengthen our Green Belt. We must continue to make full use of the opportunities it provides to allow people to enjoy their local countryside. We must not sacrifice the health of the city of Oxford and the surrounding environment by allowing plans to build homes in protected countryside.”

See: CPRE Oxon Press Release (28 January).
See: Full Report and Summary - Green Belts: a Greener Future.
See: Oxford Fact Sheet.
See: Natural England.

January 11th: Procedural Meeting on City's Core Strategy postponed.

The Procedural Meeting on the City’s Core Strategy scheduled for Monday 11th January has been postponed. According to the City, this was due to the current and expected adverse weather conditions, and due to the numbers expressing a wish to participate at the Meeting, and the range of views expressed, the Inspector was of the view that additional time is needed.

The meeting will now take place on Tuesday 9th February at 11.00 am in the Assembly Room, Oxford Town Hall.

See: Statements received and a copy of the Agenda on the City Council's Examination website here.

January 5th: CPRE responds to the Planning Inspectorate about the implications of the legal challenges to the South East Plan for the Oxford Core Strategy.

Mr Pratt, the new Planning Inspectorate, asked the City Council for their views about the implications of the legal challenges to the SE Plan and whether any progress could be made with the examination on the Oxford Core Strategy pending its resolution. The City Council responded to the Inspector's questions and Mr Pratt has now invited responses on the issues raised by the Council from all those who made representations at the Hearing, including the CPRE.

The Inspector has arranged for these issues to be discussed at a Procedural Meeting to be held at the Town Hall at 2.00 pm, on Monday, 11 January 2010.

If a positive way forward can be found, the Inspector will consider resuming the hearing sessions to discuss the implications for the Core Strategy.

CPRE has responded to the Inspector and will be attending the Procedural Meeting.

See: CPRE's response.

2009

December 1 2009: The Planning Inspectorate asks City Council for their views about the implications of the legal challenges to the South East Plan for the Core Strategy.

Mr Pratt, the new Planning Inspectorate, has asked the City Council for their views about the implications of the legal challenges and whether any progress could be made with the examination on the Oxford Core Strategy pending its resolution. The City Council has now responded to the Inspector's questions.

The City Council is firmly of the opinion that progress can be made with the Examination whilst the legal challenges relating the Strategic Development Area (otherwise known as the area south of Grenoble Road) are proceeding.

The City Council believes that the deletion of the SDA would have only limited implications for the Core Strategy, including the overall strategy, housing provision, housing:employment balance, and Northern Gateway proposal.

The Inpsector has invited brief written responses on these issues from all those who made representations at the Hearing (including the CPRE). The Inspector has arranged for these issues to be discussed at a Procedural Meeting to be held at the Town Hall at 2.00 pm, on Monday, 11 January 2010.

if a positive way forward can be found, the Inspector will consider resuming the hearing sessions to discuss the implications for the Core Strategy.

CPRE will be responding to the Inspector and will be attending the Procedural Meeting in the New Year.

See: City Council's response to the Inspector here.

November 19th 2009: ‘Resounding Victory’ for Oxford’s Green Belt says CPRE.

Following their legal challenge to the South East Plan, CPRE Oxfordshire has now received confirmation that the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) will be making major changes to the policies in the Plan removing all references to expansion into the Oxford Green Belt.

These amendments in the wording of key policies are contained in the draft consent order which DCLG has now sent to CPRE and other parties.

The key changes are:

complete deletion of all references to the Strategic Development Area (SDA) south of Oxford;
complete deletion of all references to the “selective review” of the Green Belt; and
deletion of references to a “wider review” of the Green Belt.

Alan Jones, Chairman of CPRE Oxfordshire, says:

“This is a resounding victory for CPRE and Green Belt campaigners. DCLG have conceded all the points that we challenged. With the urban extension south of Oxford (a mixed development containing at least 4,000 houses) now deleted, in responding to the draft order we will want to ensure that these are not just redistributed by DCLG to South Oxfordshire and that the City addresses its future housing needs within its own boundaries. We believe the revised wording will not provide any basis for speculative applications in the Green Belt.

These key changes in the policies of the South East Plan will have clear implications for expansionist policies in Oxford’s Core Strategy. When the Examination in Public is reconvened in the New Year, we will be making sure that issues such as the Northern Gateway are fully reconsidered by the Inspector.”

See: CPRE Oxon Press Release.
See: Oxford Mail (19 November).
See: BBC Radio Oxford (Bill Heine Show), Thursday 19 November, 5.00 pm.
See: BBC Oxford Regional News, Thursday 19 November, 6.30 pm.

November 9th 2009: Gordon Garraway, CPRE Rights of Way Consultant, wins this year's Marsh Award.

Gordon Garraway being presented with the Marsh Award by CPRE's Chairman, Peter Waine, at the Sharing Success Conference in London on November 7th.

Gordon Garraway, CPRE Oxon's Rights of Way Consultant, has won this year's Marsh Award for the benefit of rural England, in association with CPRE, recognising and rewarding the work of volunteers.

Gordon was nominated by the Oxfordshire Branch of CPRE for his outstanding work on the Oxford Green Belt Way, the 50 mile circular recreational walk around Oxford's Green Belt, created to publicise the 75th Anniversary of Oxfordshire CPRE Branch and 50 years of the Oxford Green Belt.

See: Oxford Green Belt Way.
See: CPRE Press Release (7 November).

October 28th 2009: Inspector's Report on City Core Strategy delayed due to uncertainty over SDA to the south of the city.

The Inspector's Report was due to be delivered to the City Council by the end of October. The Planning Inspectorate has, however, decided to put on hold the Inspector's Report in light of legal challenges being made to the South East Plan, and consequent uncertainty over the Strategic Development Area to the south of the city.

Once the outcome of the legal challenges to the South East Plan is known, a further hearing session will be held to consider the way forward.

Due to the retirement of Inspector Fenton at the end of October, the Planning Inspectorate has appointed another Inspector, Mr Stephen Pratt BA (Hons) MRTPI, to conduct the remaining part of the examination.

Two letters from the Planning Inspectorate explaining the reasons for the delay and the appointment of Inspector Pratt can be viewed on the City Council website (see below).

Alan Jones, CPRE Oxfordshire Branch Chairman, said:

“We were delighted that our legal challenge to the South East Plan succeeded and the threat to the Green Belt has been averted – for now. It is clear that the City should not be allowed to press on with its expansion plans in the Core Strategy and that the growth of the City needs a radical re-think. We are very pleased to see that the Core Strategy has now been put on hold.”

See CPRE Oxon Press Release (28 October).
See City Council website here.
See Oxford Mail (29 October).
Planning Resource. CPRE welcomes Oxford Core Strategy release delays (6 November).
Thame Net. CPRE demands re-think on Green Belt expansion plans (9 November).

September 29th 2009: CPRE Oxfordshire wins legal challenge to South East Plan.

The Oxfordshire Branch CPRE announced this morning that following their legal challenge to the South East Plan, the Secretary of State has conceded that insufficient consideration had been given to alternatives to the proposed urban extension in the Green Belt south of Grenoble Road

Although details have still to be hammered out with the Department for Communities and Local Government, this almost certainly means that the current proposal in the South East Plan to grab Green Belt land south of the City for a 4,000 house urban extension is dead.

Michael Tyce, CPRE Chairman for Thame District, said: "This is not only good news for the Green Belt but for Oxford too. It has always been CPRE’s case that reckless expansion is the wrong track for our unique and historic City to take, and the City Council are misguided to pursue it." (CPRE Press Release, 29 September).

BBC Radio Oxford reported that DCLG confirmed that it would not be contesting six legal challenges to the SE Plan, including the one made by CPRE, but would not comment further. They went on to say that the legal challenge affected only a small part of the SE Plan and that the rest of the plan was OK. (Bill Heine Show, 29 September)

Michael Crofton Briggs of the City Council told the Oxford Mail that it was "good news" for the City. "We are awaiting formal confirmation from the Government but it appears that this news means that we don't have to wait for the Government to take this matter to the High Court. We anticipate this further work, including further consultation and the final publication of the plan, will take just under six months." (Oxford Mail, 30 September).

CPRE is doubtful that further consultation and the final publication of the SE Plan could be done within six months.

CPRE press release (29 September 2009).
Oxford Times (29 September 2009).
Planning Resource (29 September 2009).
Oxford Mail (30 September 2009).
BBC Radio Oxford, Bill Heine Show, (30 September 2009).
Oxford Times (1 October).

September 2009: CPRE’s Legal Challenge to SE Plan likely to be heard in New Year.

CPRE Oxfordshire has now heard from the Government Solicitor that the Government will definately contest our legal challenge to the inclusion of an urban extension to Oxford in the Green Belt "South of Grenoble Road" in the Secretary of State's South East Plan published in May 2009.

CPRE understands that the Government will not be offering any new evidence to rebut our claim that Sustainability Assessments had not been carried out in a lawful way and that therefore the Secretary's decision is invalid.

Michael Tyce, Chairman of the CPRE Thame District, comments:

“It is strange that the Government is contesting the case at all, as not only have the Courts recently quashed part of the East of England plan relating to building on Green Belts on the same grounds as those on which we are basing our claim, but the Government has not appealed the decision.

The Court has now asked us if we wish to produce further evidence or rely on our original submissions, and to confirm various matters in relation to our claim. It looks unlikely that the Court hearing will take place until January/February at the earliest. This would leave little chance for the Government to appeal, should we win, before the last possible date for an election - and the Conservatives have intimated that, if elected, they would quash regional plans wholesale and let issues like this be decided locally, which would seem to us the democratic way to go about things.”

August 28 2009: Cycling septuagenarian highlights threats to Oxford’s Green Belt

Intrepid cycling septuagenarian, Cambridge psychiatrist and Russian dissident, Dr Marina Voikhanskaya, is using pedal power to highlight areas where rural beauty is threatened by development. Marina, who’s 74, is cycling 430 miles from Cambridge to Land’s End in just 10 days.

A member of the CPRE, Marina’s ride is timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Act of Parliament that gave National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty protected status.

As she pedals through North Oxfordshire, on Saturday 29th August, Marina will be highlighting the impact that the proposed ‘Northern Gateway’ development will have on Oxford’s Green Belt to the north of the City.

Marina will set out from The Plough pub in Wolvercote at 3.30 p.m. on Saturday, and will be sent on her way by fellow CPRE members and supporters.

See CPRE Press Release (27 August).
See Marina's blog.

(From left to right) Christopher Gowers, CPRE Chairman for City District, Michael Daniell, Secretary for City District, with Marina Voikhanskaya, at Cow Hill, near the proposed 'Northern Gateway' site.

June 15 2009: CPRE Oxon takes legal action over Oxford Green Belt threat.

CPRE Oxon has decided to take legal action against the Government to contest the Government's decision to approve an urban extension south of the City in the Green Belt and on Tuesday 16th June, it served papers on the Secretary of State for the Environment.

South Oxfordshire District Council has also announced they are taking the Government to court on its Green Belt plans.

A Communities and Local Government spokesperson said in response: "The South East needs a long term strategy to strengthen the economy, address housing shortages and tackle the threat of climate change.

The Government remains committed to preserving the protections offered by the Green Belt, and we have no intention of fundamentally changing this policy. The amount of Green Belt land has increased since 1997.

This does not mean that the exact current Green Belt boundaries should be set in stone. The independent expert Panel for the SE Plan has recommended miniscule changes and this reflects the pressing housing need in these specific areas, and provides the opportunity to deliver 6,000 more homes combined. We are urging the local authorities to extend the Green Belt to replace this land." (Planning Portal, 18 June).

CPRE Oxon Press Release (15 June).
SODC Press Release (15 June).
BBC News. Court action over 4,000 new homes (15 June).
Oxford BBC Radio. Micheal Tyce tells Bill Heine why CPRE is taking legal action to protect Oxford's Green Belt. (15 June)
Oxford Times. CPRE takes legal action over Oxford Green Belt threat. (15 June)
Oxford Mail. CPRE takes legal action over Oxford Green Belt threat. (15 June)
Planning Portal. South East Plan Challenged. (18 June)
Thame News. CPRE takes legal action over Oxford Green Belt threat. (15 June)
Land Gazette. CPRE takes legal action over Oxford Green Belt threat. (15 June)
Oxford Journal. CPRE takes legal action over Oxford Green Belt threat. (18 June)

May 6 2009: South East Plan Shockingly Bad News for Oxfordshire says CPRE.

The Government published on 6 May its approved version of the South East Plan. This is a major decision for the Government which has taken a year longer than expected to respond to the consultation on proposed changes to the draft Plan.

While the Government has reduced slightly its targets for house building in the region (32,700 new homes each year until 2026 rather than 33,250) [3], housing totals in the Oxfordshire sub-region remain as the Secretary of State first proposed at 40,680, with 4,000 in the urban extension south of the City. This is still however nearly 7,000 (23%) more than the South East Regional Assembly (which was then promptly abolished) thought the sub-region could take.

Helena Whall, Campaign Manager for the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) said in a Press Release: “The Oxfordshire sub-region plan is no worse than the provisional statement, but that does not mean that it is not still shockingly bad news for Oxfordshire."

CPRE Oxon Press Release.
CPRE South East Press Release.
Government of South East (GOSE) Press Release.
South East Plan.(Please note that the large file size of the document will affect the download speed).
Oxford City District Press Release.
Oxford Times (9 May).
Oxford Times (7 May).
Oxford Mail (7 May).

April 19 2009: “Objectionable”, “Unsustainable” and “Undemocratic” – says John Howell MP of the City’s plans to expand into Green Belt.

From left to right: Micheal Tyce, CPRE Chairman for Thame District, Ian Scargill, Chairman, Oxford Green Belt Network,John Howell MP, Elizabeth Gillespie, District Councillor for Garsington and The Baldons, addressing the CPRE's 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' rally at Horspath Village Hall on Sunday 19 April. Photograph by Rick Munday.

About 100 people came along to the CPRE’s ‘Hands Off Oxford’s Green Belt’ campaign rally at Horspath Village Hall on Sunday 19 April. Amongst those in the audience were Ann Ducker, Leader of the SODC, John Cotton, SODC Cabinet Member, Anne Purse, District Councillor for Forest Hill, Janet Carr, Parish Council Chairman for Wheatley and District Councillor for Wheatley. Residents from the Leys and Berinsfield also attended.

Caroline Lucas MEP, who was unable to attend the rally, sent a strong message of support: “The benefits of green open spaces are increasingly appreciated from a range of perspectives, including for our well being and mental health as well as the environment. As you enjoy the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside, please consider what this area would look like if the government forges ahead with meeting its unsustainable housing targets. I am sorry I cannot be with you to say ‘Hands Off Oxford’s Green Belt’ …By all working together I am confident that we can win this one and I shall certainly be doing my utmost in the European Parliament to help protect our valuable countryside from unnecessary development.”

CPRE's 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' Rally Speeches.

It is expected that the South East Plan, due to be announced this month by the Housing Minister, Hazel Blears, will endorse the review of the Green Belt south of the City and would require an increase in the number of houses to be built in Oxfordshire by 2026.

CPRE will continue to challenge both the urban extension into the Green Belt and any further increase in housing imposition by the Government.

Thame News.
Oxford Journal (23 April).
Oxford Times (23 April) - not online.
Oxford Mail (20 April) - not online.
Thames News.
Letter to Oxford Times (16 April).

Wesley Smith leads CPRE's 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign walk from Shotover to Horspath. From left to right, John Howell, MP, Elizabeth Gillespie, SODC Councillor, and Helena Whall, CPRE campaign manager. Photograph by Jo Cartmell.

March 27 2009: CPRE launches 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign.

On March 27, Oxfordshire’s Branch of CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) in partnership with the Oxford Green Belt Network, launched a hard hitting “Hands Off Oxford’s Green Belt” campaign to combat the current serious threats it faces.

CPRE Press Release (27 March).

A CPRE campaign map shows serious threats to the Green Belt ringing all round Oxford City, including the so-called ‘eco-town’ proposal at Weston Otmoor, threats at Marston, Shipton, and Kidlington, and the City Council’s plan for an urban extension onto South Oxfordshire’s Green Belt south of Grenoble Road.

CPRE's campaign map with key.
CPRE's map of Green Belt within Oxford City.

CPRE also reports the alarming news that South Oxfordshire itself, which has up until now professed itself a strong supporter of the Green Belt when opposing Oxford’s urban extension, is now, in its just published Core Strategy, proposing two Green Belt violations of its own, at Berinsfield and, particularly damagingly, at Wheatley (see STOP PRESS).

Over the next few weeks, CPRE members and Oxfordshire’s Green Belt parishes will receive a ‘Hands Off Oxford’s Green Belt’ campaign pack including a newsletter, car-stickers and leaflets.

CPRE 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' Campaign Newsletter, Car Sticker and Leaflet.

On Sunday 19 April members of the public who are concerned about threats to their Green Belt are invited to join a campaign walk from Shotover to Horspath, along part of CPRE’s Oxfordshire Green Belt Way, led by popular TV personality Wesley Smith, followed by a rally at Horspath Village Hall with a panel of speakers including local M.P. John Howell, Ian Scargill, Chairman of the Oxford Green Belt Network, and Elizabeth Gillespie, District Councillor for Garsington and The Baldons.

Oxford City 1981 Plan and archive of Local Press Coverage.
SODC Core Strategy
Oxford Mail (24 March).
Oxford Times (2 April).

What you can do

If you would like to support CPRE's 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign and would like to receive the campaign pack please call the CPRE Office on: 01865 874780 or email: administrator@cpreoxon.org.uk

If you would like to join us on the 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign walk and rally see below for more information.

CPRE's 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign walk & rally, Sunday, 19 April.

Come and join the CPRE on the 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign walk and rally.

The walk will begin at Shotover Hill at 3.00 pm, and will be led by popular TV personality Wesley Smith (Regional TV presenter).

The walk will finish at 4.00 pm, at Horspath Village Hall, where there will be refreshments and a short rally outlining current threats to the Oxford Green Belt.

Addressing the rally will be John Howell MP, Elizabeth Gillespie, District Councillor for Garsington and The Baldons, and Ian Scargill, Chairman, Oxford Green Belt Network.

Contact: Helena Whall, CPRE Oxfordshire Campaign Manager on tel: 01865 874780 or email: campaign@cpreoxon.org.uk.

To obtain copies of the Oxford Green Belt Way guidebook go to: http://www.greenbeltway.org.uk

Map of the route.

Latest News

2009

March 6 2009: SODC's draft Core Strategy proposes Green Belt reviews for Berinsfield and Wheatley.

South Oxfordshire District Council is looking to consult on the next stage of their Core Strategy document ‘the Preferred Options’ in late March. The Core Strategy will play a major role in shaping the future of the district over the next 20 years. The strategy will identify where significant areas of housing and employment growth will take place in the district up until 2026.

CPRE notes with concern that despite the Council’s welcome and oft-repeated opposition to the urban extension of Oxford into the Green Belt, south of Grenoble Road, the draft Core Strategy proposes Green Belt reviews for both Berinsfield and Wheatley.

Albeit on a smaller scale these proposed extensions into the Green Belt are just as much in conflict with the Green Belt and its purposes as the proposed extension south of Grenoble Road.

CPRE Oxon will be objecting to this Green Belt review when it responds to the consultation.

The draft Core Strategy is to be discussed by SODC Cabinet on 5th March. The official consultation by SODC will only begin after the document has been approved by the SODC Cabinet and amended where necessary, with a consultation period of 18th March to 1st May indicated as being probable.

See: South Oxfordshire Core Strategy Preferred Options Consultation Paper.
See: Consultation responses by CPRE Thame District and CPRE Wallingford District.

What you can do

To find out more and how you can get involved visit: SODC Core Strategy webpage.
Or phone SODC planning policy on: 01491 823725.

February 19 2009: CPRE expresses concern that an updated map of the 'northern gateway' site, released by Oxford City Council, has been enlarged to take in part of the Green Belt.

In a letter to the Oxford Times today (19 February), CPRE Oxfordshire expresses its concern that the city has enlarged the site for the so-called ‘Northern Gateway’ to Oxford at Pear Tree, by a third, increasing it to about 60 acres, taking in a stretch of Green Belt, lying south of the A40, and a piece of Green Belt to the north at Peartree Hill Farm.

We see no justification or rationale for the city to take any Green Belt land. Moreover, no such plan was suggested in the city’s consultations to which we responded.

See: Oxford Times letter (19 February).
See: Proposed site for the Northern Gateway showing the Green Belt.

January 12 2009: CPRE writes to Secretary of State requesting the suspension of the publication of the South East Plan in the light of the recommendations made by the Environmental Audit Committee.

See: CPRE letter to Secretary of State.

January 12 2009: CPRE writes to the Boundary Committee to register its objection to the request made by Oxford City for a boundary extension.

See: CPRE letter to the Boundary Committee.

2008

3 December: House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee say housing targets are putting pressure on the Green Belt.
11 November: Prime Minister's Office responds to SODC's 'Hands Off! Our Green Belt' petition.
21 October: Oxford City Council plot to fast track plans to grab Green Belt land.
7 October: SODC kept in the dark about boundary review.
26 September: South Oxfordshire District Council says no to boundary review.
19 September: Oxford City Council is looking to annex enough Green Belt land to build at least 12,000 homes as part of a proposed urban extension.
8 September: Oxford City Council bids to change its boundary with SODC to pave way for urban extension.
25 August: CPRE Oxon response to SODC Consultation.
7 May: CPRE Oxon News Release 'Oxford Green Belt - Robustly Protected or Under Threat?'.
7 May: CPRE NO News Release 'Green Belt Loss a Daily Reality Despite Government Pledges'.
May: CPRE NO Briefing 'Green Belts - Robustly Protected or Under Threat?'.
May: SODC "Hands off our Green belt" campaign.
April: Proposed eco-town, Weston-Otmoor, of upto 15,000 dwellings. Approximately 28% of the proposed 800 hectare (2,000 acre) site lies within the Green Belt.
March: Proposed extension of the Thornhill Park & Ride in the Green Belt aims to create a ‘Transport Hub’.
March: Oxford City Council proposes to erect up to 20 wind turbines in the Green Belt.
February: In a letter to the editor of the Oxford Times, Helena Whall argues that Oxford is no place for windfarms (8 February).
January: Planning Inspectorate rejects OCC application for lighting on the grounds that it would cause light pollution and ‘add to the creeping urbanisation into the Green Belt’.

December 3 2008: House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee say housing targets are putting pressure on the Green Belt.

In a recent report, "Greener homes for the future? An environmental analysis of the Government's housebuilding plans", published on 3 November, the House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee calls on the Government to revise housebuilding targets in light of the economic downturn, or risk unleashing a swathe of greenfield development.

Responding to the report, Kate Gordon, CPRE’s senior planner, said:

"The Environmental Audit Committee’s excellent report hits the nail on the head. We wholeheartedly endorse its recommendations, and share the deep concerns of the Committee’s members.

The Government has a good record on building on brownfield land but the pressure for greenfield development will intensify in an economic downturn. Inflexible Government targets and planning rules are forcing local councils across the country to needlessly allocate greenfield land for housing. Without a policy change local authorities will have no choice but to grant permission for greenfield development."

The Environmental Audit Select Committee’s key recommendations:

The Government should urgently review the basis of its target for building 3 million new homes by 2020.
A clear sequential test favouring brownfield sites for development over greenfield sites should be reintroduced into planning policy.
Targets to make all new homes zero carbon by 2016 should be used to speed up the development of community renewable energy sources for local neighbourhoods.
Government should look urgently at introducing feed-in tariffs as a way of making zero carbon homes more financially attractive to developers.
Eco-town proposals should be re-examined to ensure they have good public transport links, and are located close to commercial centres and employment opportunities, so that they do not lead to large rises in road journeys.
All major housing building developments from 2016 should have to meet the same environmental tests as eco-towns.
The Government should investigate the potential for the redevelopment of vacant building to create up to 1.2 million new homes.
Despite the current market downturn, the Government should ensure that minimum standards for public transport and green infrastructure apply to all new developments.
More aspects of the Code for Sustainable Homes – not just energy efficiency – should become mandatory for builders from 2010.
The Government should suspend the implementation of its regional spatial strategies until it has carried out and published an environmental appraisal of its house-building targets.

CPRE Oxfordshire welcomes the Committee's report, in particular its acknowledgement that the Government's housing targets are putting pressures on the Green Belt and that the test of "exceptional circumstances" for building in the Green Belt should be set higher.

See House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee Report.
See CPRE National Office Press Release.

November 11 2008: Prime Minister's Office responds to HandsOff! Our Green Belt petition.

The Prime Minister's Office has responded to the petition submitted by John Howell, MP, South Oxon, to honour his pledge to protect Green Belt land, and to not allow proposals for 4,000 houses within the Green Belt in South Oxfordshire to be included in the South East Plan. 566 people signed the petition.

To view the Prime Minister's response click here.

October 21 2008: Oxford City Council plot to fast track plans to grab Green Belt land.

At a meeting of the Executive Board on Wednesday 22 October the City Council plans to set up a joint venture to develop land South of Grenoble Road with Magdalen College and Thames Water to ensure that the massive ill-gotten gains that would result from this plan – should it ever be permitted – will be equally shared amongst the plotters.

They are also proposing to spend £30,000 of taxpayers money on a consultant’s report into the way this Green Belt despoliation might be structured.

At the same time the City Council are trying to grab the land in question – and hundreds of acres more besides – off South Oxfordshire District Council in order annex it to the City and thereby become the planning authority deciding the development.

Quite apart from CPRE's objections to the unnecessary grabbing of Green Belt land – the City has long ago admitted that more than all of the houses needed to solve the City’s claimed housing problem could be built on land already within the City boundaries – how can it be proper for the City to be deliberately setting up a development consortium which would involve potential huge financial gain to the City itself as well as at the same trying to become the Planning Authority deciding whether this lucrative plan can go ahead.

This would set up an enormous conflict of interest and destroy any possibility of fairness in the planning decision.
The City must drop one plan or the other. If it wants to form a developers consortium it must not try to grab planning control of the land; if it wants to be the planning authority it must put its land in trust and not be part of the developers cartel seeking to profit from planning permission.

To be both the beneficiary of planning permission as well as the authority that grants it, as it is trying to be, makes total nonsense of the democratic process and a mockery of the checks and balances in the planning system.
Quite apart from that it is surely wrong for the City to be deciding to blow another £30,000 of its long-suffering taxpayers money on a development which is not necessary; is not in the South East plan; has not been agreed by the Secretary of State; and is fiercely contested not only by South Oxfordshire District Council and the Parishes whose land would be grabbed if it went ahead, but by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and all who cherish the environmental and economic benefits the Green Belt provides and which an expansionist City wishes to destroy.

Bob Price, Council Leader wrote to the Oxford Times on October 3rd that the City Council “are happy with large parts of the Green Belt” which only confirms that they and their developer associates mean to profit by building over all the rest of it if given half a chance.

See Oxford City Council Committee Report.

October 7 2008: SODC kept in the dark about boundary review.

The leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, Ann Ducker, has today voiced concern at being kept in the dark over a review that could lead to a shift in the boundary between South Oxfordshire District Council and Oxford City Council. This could ultimately mean that responsibility for Green Belt land currently in South Oxfordshire would move to the City. Ann Ducker says: 'We first heard of this review from Oxford City Council, which out of courtesy told us it had accepted an invitation from the Boundary Commission to review its southern boundary.'

'I’m staggered that the commission only asked Oxford City Council and didn’t seek our views given the impact a review could have on our communities. The city has made no secret of the fact it supports development of Green Belt land in South Oxfordshire, which from the outset we have been opposed to and moving our boundary is a sneaky way of making it easier for this to happen. Any boundary change would also mean that affected residents would be subject to higher Council Tax and different arrangements for services such as waste collection.

'I’ve asked the commission to explain their actions and to ensure that we are fully involved in any future boundary discussions. In the mean time I want to reassure residents that we will continue to fight development in the Green Belt and keep them informed as more information emerges.'

September 26 2008: South Oxfordshire District Council says no to boundary review.

The leader of the South Oxfordshire District Council, Ann Ducker, has told Oxford City Council that she will not agree to a shift in the boundary between South Oxfordshire and Oxford City. In a press release issued on 29 September, she said: 'I'm pleased to confirm that the boundary commission has told us that it isn't looking to review this boundary and that it doesn't expect to start any reviews during 2009.'

See SODC press release.

September 19 2008: Oxford City Council is looking to annex enough Green Belt land to build at least 12,000 homes as part of a proposed urban extension.

Oxford City Council has asked the Boundary Committee to redraw its boundary to take in approximately 530 hectares of Oxford’s Green Belt, stretching from Sandford-on-Thames in the west to Northfield Farm in the east, currently lying within the South Oxfordshire District. CPRE Oxfordshire believes the city wants to take control of this land, making it the planning authority, in an attempt to build up to 12,000 on Oxford's Green Belt.

See Oxford Times, 19 September 2008.
See Oxford Mail, 5 September 2008.
See Oxford City Council's letter to Boundary Committee of England and attached map.
See Oxford Green Belt Network.

September 8 2008: Oxford City Council bids to change its boundary with SODC to pave way for urban extension.

Oxford City Council has asked the Boundary Committee to redraw its boundary to take in the land south of Grenoble Road, near Greater Leys. The area currently lies within the South Oxfordshire District. The city wants to take control of the parcel of land, making it the planning authority, in an attempt to speed up the housing proposals.

See Oxford Mail, 5 September 2008.

August 25 2008: CPRE Oxfordshire responds to SODC consultation on South of Oxford Urban Extension.

Following the announcement by the Secretary of State on July 17th in the Proposed Changes to the South East Plan, that there will be a review of the Oxford Green Belt, to allow for the building of 4,000 homes south of Grenoble Road, SODC were asked to demonstrate how it can accommodate the proposal in its planning documents if it becomes a requirement. As a key stakeholder, CPRE Oxfordshire were asked for its views on the issues and options raised by the proposal should it go ahead.

In its response to the consultation on the South of Oxford urban extension, CPRE Oxfordshire made it very clear that we don’t believe that any incursion into the Green Belt is warranted, and that there is no credible evidence to justify it.

See CPRE Oxfordshire's response to SODC Consultation

7 May 2008: CPRE Oxforshire News Release 'Oxford Green Belt - Robustly Protected or Under Threat?

Nationally, there has been significant loss of Green Belt land since 1997 and more is planned, despite the commitment of the Prime Minister to robustly protect it. Over 1,100 hectares of Green Belt have been lost each year since 1997 and at least 45,240 homes – equivalent to a city the size of Bath - have been built on Green Belt land since 1997. A Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) investigation of the Government’s record on Green Belt policy since 1997 lists those threats to the Green Belt in Oxfordshire.

May 2008: SODC "Hands off our Green belt" campaign.

At the end of March, SODC initiated an on-line petition for people to register how important the Green Belt is to us.

At the end of the petition time (August 2008) Downing Street will send all signatories a message giving the government's reason's for either doing something or not taking any notice of what the public wants. The main thing is to have 1000s of people signing up. So please take a few minutes to sign up and encourage friends living in or near the Oxford Green Belt to do the same.

The address of the on-line petition is: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SOxonGreenBelt

April 2008: Proposed eco-town, Weston-Otmoor, of upto 15,000 new homes.

Proposed eco-town near Weston-on-the-Green near Bicester for 15,000 dwellings. Approximately 28% of this 800 hectare (2,000 acre) site lies within the Green Belt.

March 2008:Proposed extension of the Thornhill Park & Ride in the Green Belt aims to create a 'Transport Hub'.

To the east of Oxford, an extension of the Thornhill Park & Ride in the Green Belt aims to create a ‘Transport Hub’. Informal consultation with stakeholders ended on 20 March. The planning application is expected in 2009.

CPRE Oxfordshire submitted a statement opposing the extension as part of the consultation process.

March 2008: Oxford City Council proposes to erect up to 20 wind turbines in the Green Belt.

Oxford City Council proposes to erect up to 20 wind turbines on four sites at Cuttleslowe, Hinksey, Horspath, and Sandford which will industrialise the Oxford Green Belt, harming its openness, along with the famous views of Oxford City.

2007

29 October 2007: Does Natural England threaten Oxford’s Green Belt?
12 October 2007: CPRE proposes a Green Grid for Oxford.
21 May 2007: 177 acres of green spaces within Oxford threatened, including parts of the green belt
19 April 2007: Oxford colleges set to make over £1 billion from Green Belt land. Oxford Student.
16 March 2007: Is a review of Oxford's Green Belt needed? CPRE statement.
14 March 2007: Twist in Green Belt battle. Green campaigners believe Oxford City Council has shot itself in the foot by admitting more homes could be built in the city than first thought. Oxford Mail article.
March 2007. The Examination in Public into the South East Plan has looked at Oxford's green belt. Should there be a review of the boundaries of the green belt, as the City Council and developers, or should it remain intact. The EiP's interim conclusions will be published in the summer. More on the EiP.

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Oxford's Green Belt

Oxfordshire's Green Belt is proving too tempting for developers to ignore but it is too precious for us to squander.

The first green belt was proposed in 1935 to curb ribbon development along London's arterial roads. The 1947 Town and Country Planning Act gave local authorities powers to direct development and, in 1955, they were invited to establish their own green belts. In 1956, Oxford councillors had the foresight to suggest they designate the fields surrounding their city as green belt, following a campaign by CPRE and the Oxford Preservation Trust. Designation seems to have been complete by 1958. (For an introduction to Green Belts, see BBC News.)

Green Belts now protect 13% of England. As designated open space surrounding many towns and cities, they play a critical role in creating a high quality of life for people in both town and country. They protect the open character of the countryside next to urban areas and stop sprawl, thereby encouraging urban regeneration. They are a place where we can get a bit of exercise, explore the countryside next door and enjoy some peace and quiet. They are where we grow food, ride horses, and walk and talk in relative peace.

But the reality is that Green Belts face multiple threats, nowhere more so than in Oxfordshire where the proposals (below) currently threaten the rural character of our county.

Threats to Oxfordshire's Green Belt

Kennington. A 30 acre site south of Sandford Lane in the Green Belt for 440 houses. The developers say it could be one of a necklace of smaller sites around the City, most of which would lie in the Green Belt.
Sunningwell. Developers West Waddy ADP (acting on behalf of the local landowner Mr Ted Wilcox) propose up to 6,000 houses, a park and ride scheme and a waste incineration plant to be built wholly within the Green Belt, adjacent to the villages of Sunningwell and Bayworth.
Land south of Grenoble Road. A 1,000 house mixed development was included in the initial Structure Plan draft. Oxford City Council has since suggested 5,000 houses. Magdalen College and Thames Water have promoted 3,000 houses and an extension to the Science Park. At the recent Examination in Public into the South East Plan, David Lock, a planner representing Magdalen College and Thames Water suggested that 4,000 to 8,000 dwellings was the minimum size for a sustainable urban extension, such as that his clients desired south of Grenoble Road.
Shipton-on-Cherwell. A planning application by Kilbride Properties Ltd for development of the former limestone quarry (for a mixture of uses including industrial and commercial) was approved on 14 January by the County Planning Committee. This will have serious wildlife and traffic implications.
Bebroke. Oxford University and Merton College are keen to develop land they own in Begbroke between Sandy Lane and Begbroke Lane, all of which is in the Green Belt.
Oxford Airport. Up to 160,000 flights a year are planned as the airport shifts from training to commercial flights.
A34 Corridor. Oxford City Council has proposed a Strategic Development Area along the A34 corridor stretching from the City south towards Abingdon and Didcot. This would be adjacent to the City and on the Green Belt. A major hub has been suggested at Lodge Hill.
Horspath & Garsington. Oxford City Council, BMW and Brasenose College are pressing for housing and industrial development in the Green Belt.

! Thornhill Park & Ride. To the east of Oxford, an extension of the Thornhill Park & Ride in the Green Belt aims to create a ‘Transport Hub’.

! Weston-Otmoor. Proposed eco-town near Weston-on-the-Green for 15,000 dwellings. Approximately 28% of this 800 hectare (2,000 acre) site lies within the Green Belt.

! Wind Farms. Oxford City Council proposes to erect up to 20 wind turbines on four sites at Cuttleslowe, Hinksey, Horspath, and Sandford which will industrialise the Oxford Green Belt, harming its openness, along with the famous views of Oxford City.

CPRE on the Green Belt

CPRE South East told the inquiry into the South East Plan that:

The current world scale success of London is at least in part because of the existence of the Metropolitan Green Belt… [which] has also protected market towns around London, which have maintained their character, and some have become significant economic hubs themselves and rivers of the economy in the South East… The academic, research and economic vibrancy of Oxford is proof that the established fact of the Oxford Green Belt has not limited this success… There is no case for a strategic review of the Green Belts within the [South East] region. Full statement.

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	Green Belt

	Oxford's Green Belt CPRE on the Green Belt Further information Latest News Latest News 2010 May 28 2010: CPRE Oxfordshire welcomes abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies and more say for local communities – but urges action to avoid policy vacuum. The Government proposal to abolish Regional Spatial Strategies had been expected and CPRE Oxfordshire welcomes the move to reform planning and give back greater control to local communities. But we need a clear, effective system to replace “top down” targets and deliver genuinely sustainable solutions, with protection for the countryside, the Green Belt, important landscapes and habitats. It is a golden opportunity to deliver sensible, sustainable planning and reduce the complexities which bedevil the current system. With the Districts in the midst of their Core Strategies, the last thing Oxfordshire needs is a period of uncertainty and policy vacuum as this will only encourage speculative planning applications. We would urge the Government to expedite new arrangements after full consultations, and provide effective national guidance which does not ride roughshod over local concerns. With SE Plan targets removed, we would urge the five Districts to reconsider their housing plans to 2026 and formulate Core Strategies which are more sustainable and more in tune with local views. Finally, this should not be a green light for the City to renew their ambitions to expand into the Green Belt. The Central Oxfordshire sub-regional strategy aims to maintain the city as a vibrant centre, while creating more jobs and investment in towns such as Bicester and Didcot to relieve the pressures. We call on the five Districts and County Council to now work together responsibly to give new life to the Central Oxfordshire concept. See: CPRE Oxfordshire Press Release (28 May). See: Oxford Times (27 May). See: Oxford Mail (27 May) For more information on the Devolution and Localism Bill see DCLG website here. For the full list of Bills see DCLG website here. April 27th: Consent Order regarding South Oxford Strategic Development Area soon to be agreed. Following CPRE Oxfordshire’s legal challenge of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the South East of England last year, the Secretary of State accepted our case and issued a Consent Order. CPRE Oxfordshire subsequently agreed with the Treasury Solicitor the content for a Consent Order. However, there were three other separate applications before the Court that overlapped considerably in that they all challenged policies the broad effect of which is to identify a strategic development area to the south of Oxford and a consequent selective review of the Oxford Green Belt. These other parties are now understood to be in the process of agreeing the Consent Order and it is hoped that such agreement will be reached without necessitating a court hearing. April 22nd: Northern Gateway plan has been scaled down by city planners. Oxford City Council has been forced to trim the size of the planned Northern Gateway development, near Pear Tree Roundabout, after officers accepted a proposal to build 4,000 homes south of Greater Leys may never happen. Because there are now thousands fewer homes in the pipeline, the council has had to scale down the proposed northern development in order to maintain a jobs-to-homes balance in the city. Job forecasts for the site have been reduced from 5,000 to 3,000, and the council’s new blueprint suggests the site will now be spread over 55,000sq m of floor space, rather than the previous figure of up to 80,000sq m. Michael Crofton-Briggs, the council’s head of city development, said: “Because we cannot assume there is going to be extra housing south of Grenoble Road, we have to look at the housing/job balance in Oxford.” The council has recently revised its core strategy document, which shows how Oxford will grow in the period to 2026, because of an ongoing legal challenge submitted by CPRE Oxfordshire and others, to the Government’s South East Plan proposal to build the 4,000 homes near Grenoble Road. Officers have pushed ahead with the revised document, based on the assumption there will be no development south of the city. They have called on the public to give their views on the change to the Northern Gateway proposals and to the core strategy as a whole. A spokesman for Engage Oxford, the campaign group set up to oppose the Northern Gateway development, said: “A public meeting held in January unanimously condemned the core strategy. It is unclear why the city council is continuing to push forward a plan which does not have the support of residents. The case for the Northern Gateway proposal is fundamentally flawed. No amount of tinkering around with the evidence base alters that fact.” CPRE Oxfordshire has opposed the Northern Gateway development on the grounds that it includes two parcels of Green Belt land. The six-week public consultation on the revised strategy closes on May 21. See: Oxford City Council Core Strategy Further Proposed Changes Consultation. See: Oxford Mail (15 April). March: Inspector decides Oxford City Council's suggested changes to Core Strategy provide a positive way forward to completing the examination. Following the Procedural Meeting held in February to discuss the completion of the Oxford Core Strategy, Inspector Stephen Pratt has decided that the City Council's suggested changes to the Core Strategy, along with the associated supporting evidence and suggested timetable provides a positive way forward to completing the examination. The examination is currently suspended, pending the resolution of the legal challenges to the South of Oxford Strategic Development Area included in the final approved version of the South East Plan Regional Spatial Strategy, lodged by CPRE Oxfordshire and others. In the Inspector's letter to the City Council, dated 18 March 2010, Stephen Pratt says: “I have carefully considered all the points made by the City Council and other participants, including those made at the Procedural Meeting and to the City Council’s response. Taking everything into account, I have decided that the City Council’s suggested changes, along with the associated supporting evidence and suggested timetable provides a positive way forward to completing the examination. In coming to my decision, I particularly note that national policy in PPS12 emphasises the importance of producing core strategies in a timely and efficient manner, since this is essential for the supply of housing and other development land to meet need, and is related to the local government performance framework." He goes on: "However, my decision is subject to several important qualifications. Firstly, I will expect the City Council to complete the necessary work and supporting material associated with the suggested changes to the Core Strategy before the consultation commences. This will enable other participants to understand the basis for the suggested changes and make full comments at the consultation stage..." He continues: "Secondly, before the hearings recommence, I will need to have information on the latest position on the legal challenges to the South East Plan RSS…" He goes on: "Thirdly, I understand that the City Council intends to undertake full consultation on the suggested changes to the Core Strategy and supporting material, so that anyone can make representations on the suggested changes, not merely those who have already made representations or have been involved in the examination and/or hearings….” He concludes: "I propose to review the future progress of the examination once the consultation period has closed. When the City Council and I have had an opportunity to consider the representations, I will confirm whether the hearing sessions are to resume, and outline the matters for discussion at these sessions…" We can therefore expect the next step is for the City to publish for full consultation the suggested changes to the Core Strategy and supporting material. The consultation on the suggested changes will begin on 9th April and will last 6 weeks. CPRE Oxfordshire have made it crystal clear to all parties that we think doing this in the run up to the local and General elections is totally unacceptable if the City want to reclaim some credibility for this whole strategy. The Inspector has emphasised that before the EIP hearing itself can resume, he has to be satisfied about a number of important matters. CPRE note he states “whether the hearings are to resume”. We feel there must be a serious question after this tortuous process whether a “sound” plan can now emerge. The Hearings are due to recommence (if confirmed) in early July. March: Complex planning issues face the Green Belt site at Water Eaton. Complex planning issues face the Green Belt site at Water Eaton where Chiltern Railways hope to build a major new Parkway station to serve Oxford. While CPRE supports the broad objectives of the Evergreen3 Scheme, i.e., in promoting more sustainable travel and improving local rail capacity, we are concerned that much of the development at and adjacent to Water Eaton is within the Oxford Green Belt. The Water Eaton site was already complicated, with the park-and-ride, the aggregates depot, and the Grundons MRF proposal to replace the grain silo — which was approved in principle in 2008. It is of serious concern to CPRE that to make space for the new station Chiltern propose to relocate the aggregates depot to a new site alongside the railway taking Green Belt agricultural land and that the proposed MRF may have to be displaced altogether to another Green Belt site. The scheme would also intensify the “urbanisation” of the narrow gap between Kidlington and Oxford, when one of the fundamental aims of Green Belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open. CPRE are calling for early clarificiation of what can be reasonably accommodated on the Water Eaton site without compromising the Green Belt. See letter from Helena Whall to Oxford Times (18 March). See: Oxford Times (11 March). March 12th: CPRE responds to Oxford City Council's letter to the Inspector of the Examination in Public of the Core Strategy. Following the Procedural Meeting on 9 February 2010, the City Council, on 3 March, made public its response to questions raised by the Inspector at the meeting regarding the Core Strategy. CPRE and other stakeholders to the Examination in Public were given the opportunity to respond to the City Council's letter to the Inspector by 12 March. CPRE remains extremely concerned at the apparent pressures from Government and the City Council to expedite the EIP process, when in the circumstances there are strong arguments for a radical re- think of the Core Strategy by the City, rather than attempt to progress a very flawed document - especially as the current Local Plan runs to 2016. The Inspector has already outlined the main issues at the conclusion of the Procedural Meeting in February. Given the litany of revisions so far, and the additional round of changes now proposed by the City, we seriously question whether the current process retains any real credibility and whether further “tinkering” to the current Core Strategy document is acceptable to the majority of local stakeholders. We reiterate our view that no Examination hearings should be convened until the SE Plan Consent Order is finally agreed by all parties and issued (this is probably within weeks of being resolved now) and it is also clear that DCLG do not intend to make any other alterations to the published SE Plan. All participants can then understand fully the final SE Plan policies under which the Core Strategy must be considered. Any other course of action would be illogical and unreasonable. We note the City’s suggested changes to wording, but contend that the issue is far more fundamental than that in terms of requiring a rigorous re-think of the Core Strategy in light of the changed Regional /SubRegional Plan context, the changed national economic context, and the issues surrounding the problematic Housing/ Jobs “balance”. If 4,000 out of 12,000 houses for the City are now deleted, we contend this must have a radical bearing on a range of policies. CPRE also reiterates our request that Inspector Fenton’s findings from the adjourned EIP are published as soon as is practicable – in some shape or form - so that all participants can fully understand the context for any views the new Inspector may have on the Core Strategy. See: CPRE's full response here. February 10th: CPRE calls on City to start again on its Core Strategy. Following the delay of the Examination in Public of the City's Core Strategy, due to the legal challenge to the South East Plan by CPRE and others, a Procedural Meeting was held yesterday at the Town Hall. The Inspector’s basic remit was to ascertain if there was any realistic prospect of resuming the EIP whilst the legal challenges against the SE Plan and the South of Oxford SDA in the Green Belt were still unresolved. CPRE had already submitted its arguments in writing. Our position is that it is not logical or reasonable to carry on with the EIP until the full results of the legal challenges are known to all parties to the EIP and everyone is clear about the SE Plan policies as they affect Oxford’s Core Strategy and the Central Oxfordshire subregion as a whole. The parties to the meeting could roughly be divided into those who opposed carrying on with the EIP, mainly local amenity and residents groups, and those who felt that some progress could be achieved notwithstanding the legal action, including the City, GOSE, and various commercial interests. We felt that the Inspector dealt with a very difficult set of circumstances in a very skilful way and addressed all the important questions. Three big issues were central to the discussion: There are still significant uncertainties over the outcome of the legal challenges over the SE Plan and removal of the South of Oxford SDA, in terms of what the outcomes may be and the timescales; Many of those present were very critical over the inadequate levels of consultation by the City Council on the present Core Strategy; There are now very strong arguments for the City Council to start again and re-think the Core Strategy, with fresh rounds of consultations. In summing up the Inspector made it very clear to the City Council that there were many significant issues for them to address if they still felt it was possible to carry on with the EIP. He also spelled it out that many people felt “they ought to start again”, and there were many things to put right, with both the Strategy and the evidence base behind it, if they wished to continue. Removal of the South of Oxford SDA could clearly affect a number of proposals in the Core Strategy including the Northern Gateway. We hope that, having heard what the Inspector has said, the City will now reflect on this and have the good sense to cut its losses, and undertake a radical re- think of the Core Strategy, rather than attempt to progress a very flawed and discredited document. In this way a fresh document can emerge which takes full account of the revisions to the SE Plan, as well as other issues raised by the EIP so far, and better consultations can take place so that the Core Strategy will, ultimately, gain more public support. The Inspector will make an official note of the meeting available within two weeks. Oxford City will provide a written response outlining their possible timetable for progressing the EIP, which will be made public. The Inspector’s final decision on completing the Core Strategy EIP can be expected in a “matter of weeks”. See: CPRE's response. See: City Council's Examination website here. January 28th: First major national survey of the environmental state of Green Belt land and the benefits it provides for people and wildlife is published today by CPRE and Natural England. Natural England and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) have joined together today to publish Green Belts: a Greener Future. This is the first major national survey of the environmental state of Green Belt land, and the benefits it provides for people and wildlife. Together, Green Belts cover 13% of the land surface of England and 30 million people live in or next to a Green Belt. New research, presented in this report, concludes that the Oxford Green Belt, established over fifty years ago, and covering 66,868 hectares, is a vital environmental asset. It is: the best means of protecting the Oxfordshire countryside from urban sprawl; a valuable resource in providing space for people to exercise and enjoy peace and quiet; a large area of truly rural landscape on the edge of our historic city; important for agriculture; and of growing importance for wildlife. However, Oxford’s Green Belt remains under constant threat from inappropriate development, including: the proposed urban extension into the Green Belt south of the City, for a mixed development of at least 4,000 houses; the proposed Northern Gateway scheme which could include two parcels of Green Belt land; and the proposed development of Green Belt land around Wheatley and Berinsfield in South Oxfordshire. CPRE and Natural England have agreed a series of actions that we need to take to improve Oxford’s Green Belt, through: continuing to uphold existing Government planning policy which restricts new development in the Green Belt; focusing on better and more co-ordinated land management to help the Green Belt deliver vital environmental services – such as attractive landscapes, wildlife rich habitats, places for recreation, healthy soils, fresh water, woodland and improved air quality; maintaining and improving the Green Belt as part of an ecological network between the city, the surrounding countryside, and nationally important landscapes; and encouraging more public use of the Green Belt, while maintaining the Green Belt’s open, rural character (the Oxford Green Belt Way allows city residents to walk the Green Belt and get there and back by public transport). In a press release, issued on 28 January, Helena Whall, Campaign Manager for CPRE Oxfordshire, said: “By protecting land from development, the Oxford Green Belt has protected the setting of the historic city of Oxford and prevented the uncontrolled urban sprawl witnessed in many other cities. This report shows that the Green Belt is much more than a planning designation. It is a vital environmental resource than can help with the production of locally grown food, support wildlife and provide breathing places for city dwellers and others.” Helena Whall concluded: “The report confirms that the countryside around the city of Oxford is a vital, but fragile, environmental asset. It underpins what we at CPRE have been saying for decades – that we must continue to not only defend, but strengthen our Green Belt. We must continue to make full use of the opportunities it provides to allow people to enjoy their local countryside. We must not sacrifice the health of the city of Oxford and the surrounding environment by allowing plans to build homes in protected countryside.” See: CPRE Oxon Press Release (28 January). See: Full Report and Summary - Green Belts: a Greener Future. See: Oxford Fact Sheet. See: Natural England. January 11th: Procedural Meeting on City's Core Strategy postponed. The Procedural Meeting on the City’s Core Strategy scheduled for Monday 11th January has been postponed. According to the City, this was due to the current and expected adverse weather conditions, and due to the numbers expressing a wish to participate at the Meeting, and the range of views expressed, the Inspector was of the view that additional time is needed. The meeting will now take place on Tuesday 9th February at 11.00 am in the Assembly Room, Oxford Town Hall. See: Statements received and a copy of the Agenda on the City Council's Examination website here. January 5th: CPRE responds to the Planning Inspectorate about the implications of the legal challenges to the South East Plan for the Oxford Core Strategy. Mr Pratt, the new Planning Inspectorate, asked the City Council for their views about the implications of the legal challenges to the SE Plan and whether any progress could be made with the examination on the Oxford Core Strategy pending its resolution. The City Council responded to the Inspector's questions and Mr Pratt has now invited responses on the issues raised by the Council from all those who made representations at the Hearing, including the CPRE. The Inspector has arranged for these issues to be discussed at a Procedural Meeting to be held at the Town Hall at 2.00 pm, on Monday, 11 January 2010. If a positive way forward can be found, the Inspector will consider resuming the hearing sessions to discuss the implications for the Core Strategy. CPRE has responded to the Inspector and will be attending the Procedural Meeting. See: CPRE's response. 2009 December 1 2009: The Planning Inspectorate asks City Council for their views about the implications of the legal challenges to the South East Plan for the Core Strategy. Mr Pratt, the new Planning Inspectorate, has asked the City Council for their views about the implications of the legal challenges and whether any progress could be made with the examination on the Oxford Core Strategy pending its resolution. The City Council has now responded to the Inspector's questions. The City Council is firmly of the opinion that progress can be made with the Examination whilst the legal challenges relating the Strategic Development Area (otherwise known as the area south of Grenoble Road) are proceeding. The City Council believes that the deletion of the SDA would have only limited implications for the Core Strategy, including the overall strategy, housing provision, housing:employment balance, and Northern Gateway proposal. The Inpsector has invited brief written responses on these issues from all those who made representations at the Hearing (including the CPRE). The Inspector has arranged for these issues to be discussed at a Procedural Meeting to be held at the Town Hall at 2.00 pm, on Monday, 11 January 2010. if a positive way forward can be found, the Inspector will consider resuming the hearing sessions to discuss the implications for the Core Strategy. CPRE will be responding to the Inspector and will be attending the Procedural Meeting in the New Year. See: City Council's response to the Inspector here. November 19th 2009: ‘Resounding Victory’ for Oxford’s Green Belt says CPRE. Following their legal challenge to the South East Plan, CPRE Oxfordshire has now received confirmation that the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) will be making major changes to the policies in the Plan removing all references to expansion into the Oxford Green Belt. These amendments in the wording of key policies are contained in the draft consent order which DCLG has now sent to CPRE and other parties. The key changes are: complete deletion of all references to the Strategic Development Area (SDA) south of Oxford; complete deletion of all references to the “selective review” of the Green Belt; and deletion of references to a “wider review” of the Green Belt. Alan Jones, Chairman of CPRE Oxfordshire, says: “This is a resounding victory for CPRE and Green Belt campaigners. DCLG have conceded all the points that we challenged. With the urban extension south of Oxford (a mixed development containing at least 4,000 houses) now deleted, in responding to the draft order we will want to ensure that these are not just redistributed by DCLG to South Oxfordshire and that the City addresses its future housing needs within its own boundaries. We believe the revised wording will not provide any basis for speculative applications in the Green Belt. These key changes in the policies of the South East Plan will have clear implications for expansionist policies in Oxford’s Core Strategy. When the Examination in Public is reconvened in the New Year, we will be making sure that issues such as the Northern Gateway are fully reconsidered by the Inspector.” See: CPRE Oxon Press Release. See: Oxford Mail (19 November). See: BBC Radio Oxford (Bill Heine Show), Thursday 19 November, 5.00 pm. See: BBC Oxford Regional News, Thursday 19 November, 6.30 pm. November 9th 2009: Gordon Garraway, CPRE Rights of Way Consultant, wins this year's Marsh Award. Gordon Garraway being presented with the Marsh Award by CPRE's Chairman, Peter Waine, at the Sharing Success Conference in London on November 7th. Gordon Garraway, CPRE Oxon's Rights of Way Consultant, has won this year's Marsh Award for the benefit of rural England, in association with CPRE, recognising and rewarding the work of volunteers. Gordon was nominated by the Oxfordshire Branch of CPRE for his outstanding work on the Oxford Green Belt Way, the 50 mile circular recreational walk around Oxford's Green Belt, created to publicise the 75th Anniversary of Oxfordshire CPRE Branch and 50 years of the Oxford Green Belt. See: Oxford Green Belt Way. See: CPRE Press Release (7 November). October 28th 2009: Inspector's Report on City Core Strategy delayed due to uncertainty over SDA to the south of the city. The Inspector's Report was due to be delivered to the City Council by the end of October. The Planning Inspectorate has, however, decided to put on hold the Inspector's Report in light of legal challenges being made to the South East Plan, and consequent uncertainty over the Strategic Development Area to the south of the city. Once the outcome of the legal challenges to the South East Plan is known, a further hearing session will be held to consider the way forward. Due to the retirement of Inspector Fenton at the end of October, the Planning Inspectorate has appointed another Inspector, Mr Stephen Pratt BA (Hons) MRTPI, to conduct the remaining part of the examination. Two letters from the Planning Inspectorate explaining the reasons for the delay and the appointment of Inspector Pratt can be viewed on the City Council website (see below). Alan Jones, CPRE Oxfordshire Branch Chairman, said: “We were delighted that our legal challenge to the South East Plan succeeded and the threat to the Green Belt has been averted – for now. It is clear that the City should not be allowed to press on with its expansion plans in the Core Strategy and that the growth of the City needs a radical re-think. We are very pleased to see that the Core Strategy has now been put on hold.” See CPRE Oxon Press Release (28 October). See City Council website here. See Oxford Mail (29 October). Planning Resource. CPRE welcomes Oxford Core Strategy release delays (6 November). Thame Net. CPRE demands re-think on Green Belt expansion plans (9 November). September 29th 2009: CPRE Oxfordshire wins legal challenge to South East Plan. The Oxfordshire Branch CPRE announced this morning that following their legal challenge to the South East Plan, the Secretary of State has conceded that insufficient consideration had been given to alternatives to the proposed urban extension in the Green Belt south of Grenoble Road Although details have still to be hammered out with the Department for Communities and Local Government, this almost certainly means that the current proposal in the South East Plan to grab Green Belt land south of the City for a 4,000 house urban extension is dead. Michael Tyce, CPRE Chairman for Thame District, said: "This is not only good news for the Green Belt but for Oxford too. It has always been CPRE’s case that reckless expansion is the wrong track for our unique and historic City to take, and the City Council are misguided to pursue it." (CPRE Press Release, 29 September). BBC Radio Oxford reported that DCLG confirmed that it would not be contesting six legal challenges to the SE Plan, including the one made by CPRE, but would not comment further. They went on to say that the legal challenge affected only a small part of the SE Plan and that the rest of the plan was OK. (Bill Heine Show, 29 September) Michael Crofton Briggs of the City Council told the Oxford Mail that it was "good news" for the City. "We are awaiting formal confirmation from the Government but it appears that this news means that we don't have to wait for the Government to take this matter to the High Court. We anticipate this further work, including further consultation and the final publication of the plan, will take just under six months." (Oxford Mail, 30 September). CPRE is doubtful that further consultation and the final publication of the SE Plan could be done within six months. CPRE press release (29 September 2009). Oxford Times (29 September 2009). Planning Resource (29 September 2009). Oxford Mail (30 September 2009). BBC Radio Oxford, Bill Heine Show, (30 September 2009). Oxford Times (1 October). September 2009: CPRE’s Legal Challenge to SE Plan likely to be heard in New Year. CPRE Oxfordshire has now heard from the Government Solicitor that the Government will definately contest our legal challenge to the inclusion of an urban extension to Oxford in the Green Belt "South of Grenoble Road" in the Secretary of State's South East Plan published in May 2009. CPRE understands that the Government will not be offering any new evidence to rebut our claim that Sustainability Assessments had not been carried out in a lawful way and that therefore the Secretary's decision is invalid. Michael Tyce, Chairman of the CPRE Thame District, comments: “It is strange that the Government is contesting the case at all, as not only have the Courts recently quashed part of the East of England plan relating to building on Green Belts on the same grounds as those on which we are basing our claim, but the Government has not appealed the decision. The Court has now asked us if we wish to produce further evidence or rely on our original submissions, and to confirm various matters in relation to our claim. It looks unlikely that the Court hearing will take place until January/February at the earliest. This would leave little chance for the Government to appeal, should we win, before the last possible date for an election - and the Conservatives have intimated that, if elected, they would quash regional plans wholesale and let issues like this be decided locally, which would seem to us the democratic way to go about things.” August 28 2009: Cycling septuagenarian highlights threats to Oxford’s Green Belt Intrepid cycling septuagenarian, Cambridge psychiatrist and Russian dissident, Dr Marina Voikhanskaya, is using pedal power to highlight areas where rural beauty is threatened by development. Marina, who’s 74, is cycling 430 miles from Cambridge to Land’s End in just 10 days. A member of the CPRE, Marina’s ride is timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Act of Parliament that gave National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty protected status. As she pedals through North Oxfordshire, on Saturday 29th August, Marina will be highlighting the impact that the proposed ‘Northern Gateway’ development will have on Oxford’s Green Belt to the north of the City. Marina will set out from The Plough pub in Wolvercote at 3.30 p.m. on Saturday, and will be sent on her way by fellow CPRE members and supporters. See CPRE Press Release (27 August). See Marina's blog. (From left to right) Christopher Gowers, CPRE Chairman for City District, Michael Daniell, Secretary for City District, with Marina Voikhanskaya, at Cow Hill, near the proposed 'Northern Gateway' site. June 15 2009: CPRE Oxon takes legal action over Oxford Green Belt threat. CPRE Oxon has decided to take legal action against the Government to contest the Government's decision to approve an urban extension south of the City in the Green Belt and on Tuesday 16th June, it served papers on the Secretary of State for the Environment. South Oxfordshire District Council has also announced they are taking the Government to court on its Green Belt plans. A Communities and Local Government spokesperson said in response: "The South East needs a long term strategy to strengthen the economy, address housing shortages and tackle the threat of climate change. The Government remains committed to preserving the protections offered by the Green Belt, and we have no intention of fundamentally changing this policy. The amount of Green Belt land has increased since 1997. This does not mean that the exact current Green Belt boundaries should be set in stone. The independent expert Panel for the SE Plan has recommended miniscule changes and this reflects the pressing housing need in these specific areas, and provides the opportunity to deliver 6,000 more homes combined. We are urging the local authorities to extend the Green Belt to replace this land." (Planning Portal, 18 June). CPRE Oxon Press Release (15 June). SODC Press Release (15 June). BBC News. Court action over 4,000 new homes (15 June). Oxford BBC Radio. Micheal Tyce tells Bill Heine why CPRE is taking legal action to protect Oxford's Green Belt. (15 June) Oxford Times. CPRE takes legal action over Oxford Green Belt threat. (15 June) Oxford Mail. CPRE takes legal action over Oxford Green Belt threat. (15 June) Planning Portal. South East Plan Challenged. (18 June) Thame News. CPRE takes legal action over Oxford Green Belt threat. (15 June) Land Gazette. CPRE takes legal action over Oxford Green Belt threat. (15 June) Oxford Journal. CPRE takes legal action over Oxford Green Belt threat. (18 June) May 6 2009: South East Plan Shockingly Bad News for Oxfordshire says CPRE. The Government published on 6 May its approved version of the South East Plan. This is a major decision for the Government which has taken a year longer than expected to respond to the consultation on proposed changes to the draft Plan. While the Government has reduced slightly its targets for house building in the region (32,700 new homes each year until 2026 rather than 33,250) [3], housing totals in the Oxfordshire sub-region remain as the Secretary of State first proposed at 40,680, with 4,000 in the urban extension south of the City. This is still however nearly 7,000 (23%) more than the South East Regional Assembly (which was then promptly abolished) thought the sub-region could take. Helena Whall, Campaign Manager for the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) said in a Press Release: “The Oxfordshire sub-region plan is no worse than the provisional statement, but that does not mean that it is not still shockingly bad news for Oxfordshire." CPRE Oxon Press Release. CPRE South East Press Release. Government of South East (GOSE) Press Release. South East Plan.(Please note that the large file size of the document will affect the download speed). Oxford City District Press Release. Oxford Times (9 May). Oxford Times (7 May). Oxford Mail (7 May). April 19 2009: “Objectionable”, “Unsustainable” and “Undemocratic” – says John Howell MP of the City’s plans to expand into Green Belt. From left to right: Micheal Tyce, CPRE Chairman for Thame District, Ian Scargill, Chairman, Oxford Green Belt Network,John Howell MP, Elizabeth Gillespie, District Councillor for Garsington and The Baldons, addressing the CPRE's 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' rally at Horspath Village Hall on Sunday 19 April. Photograph by Rick Munday. About 100 people came along to the CPRE’s ‘Hands Off Oxford’s Green Belt’ campaign rally at Horspath Village Hall on Sunday 19 April. Amongst those in the audience were Ann Ducker, Leader of the SODC, John Cotton, SODC Cabinet Member, Anne Purse, District Councillor for Forest Hill, Janet Carr, Parish Council Chairman for Wheatley and District Councillor for Wheatley. Residents from the Leys and Berinsfield also attended. Caroline Lucas MEP, who was unable to attend the rally, sent a strong message of support: “The benefits of green open spaces are increasingly appreciated from a range of perspectives, including for our well being and mental health as well as the environment. As you enjoy the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside, please consider what this area would look like if the government forges ahead with meeting its unsustainable housing targets. I am sorry I cannot be with you to say ‘Hands Off Oxford’s Green Belt’ …By all working together I am confident that we can win this one and I shall certainly be doing my utmost in the European Parliament to help protect our valuable countryside from unnecessary development.” CPRE's 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' Rally Speeches. It is expected that the South East Plan, due to be announced this month by the Housing Minister, Hazel Blears, will endorse the review of the Green Belt south of the City and would require an increase in the number of houses to be built in Oxfordshire by 2026. CPRE will continue to challenge both the urban extension into the Green Belt and any further increase in housing imposition by the Government. Thame News. Oxford Journal (23 April). Oxford Times (23 April) - not online. Oxford Mail (20 April) - not online. Thames News. Letter to Oxford Times (16 April). Wesley Smith leads CPRE's 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign walk from Shotover to Horspath. From left to right, John Howell, MP, Elizabeth Gillespie, SODC Councillor, and Helena Whall, CPRE campaign manager. Photograph by Jo Cartmell. March 27 2009: CPRE launches 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign. On March 27, Oxfordshire’s Branch of CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) in partnership with the Oxford Green Belt Network, launched a hard hitting “Hands Off Oxford’s Green Belt” campaign to combat the current serious threats it faces. CPRE Press Release (27 March). A CPRE campaign map shows serious threats to the Green Belt ringing all round Oxford City, including the so-called ‘eco-town’ proposal at Weston Otmoor, threats at Marston, Shipton, and Kidlington, and the City Council’s plan for an urban extension onto South Oxfordshire’s Green Belt south of Grenoble Road. CPRE's campaign map with key. CPRE's map of Green Belt within Oxford City. CPRE also reports the alarming news that South Oxfordshire itself, which has up until now professed itself a strong supporter of the Green Belt when opposing Oxford’s urban extension, is now, in its just published Core Strategy, proposing two Green Belt violations of its own, at Berinsfield and, particularly damagingly, at Wheatley (see STOP PRESS). Over the next few weeks, CPRE members and Oxfordshire’s Green Belt parishes will receive a ‘Hands Off Oxford’s Green Belt’ campaign pack including a newsletter, car-stickers and leaflets. CPRE 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' Campaign Newsletter, Car Sticker and Leaflet. On Sunday 19 April members of the public who are concerned about threats to their Green Belt are invited to join a campaign walk from Shotover to Horspath, along part of CPRE’s Oxfordshire Green Belt Way, led by popular TV personality Wesley Smith, followed by a rally at Horspath Village Hall with a panel of speakers including local M.P. John Howell, Ian Scargill, Chairman of the Oxford Green Belt Network, and Elizabeth Gillespie, District Councillor for Garsington and The Baldons. Oxford City 1981 Plan and archive of Local Press Coverage. SODC Core Strategy Oxford Mail (24 March). Oxford Times (2 April). What you can do If you would like to support CPRE's 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign and would like to receive the campaign pack please call the CPRE Office on: 01865 874780 or email: administrator@cpreoxon.org.uk If you would like to join us on the 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign walk and rally see below for more information. CPRE's 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign walk & rally, Sunday, 19 April. Come and join the CPRE on the 'Hands Off Oxford's Green Belt' campaign walk and rally. The walk will begin at Shotover Hill at 3.00 pm, and will be led by popular TV personality Wesley Smith (Regional TV presenter). The walk will finish at 4.00 pm, at Horspath Village Hall, where there will be refreshments and a short rally outlining current threats to the Oxford Green Belt. Addressing the rally will be John Howell MP, Elizabeth Gillespie, District Councillor for Garsington and The Baldons, and Ian Scargill, Chairman, Oxford Green Belt Network. Contact: Helena Whall, CPRE Oxfordshire Campaign Manager on tel: 01865 874780 or email: campaign@cpreoxon.org.uk. To obtain copies of the Oxford Green Belt Way guidebook go to: http://www.greenbeltway.org.uk Map of the route. Latest News 2009 March 6 2009: SODC's draft Core Strategy proposes Green Belt reviews for Berinsfield and Wheatley. South Oxfordshire District Council is looking to consult on the next stage of their Core Strategy document ‘the Preferred Options’ in late March. The Core Strategy will play a major role in shaping the future of the district over the next 20 years. The strategy will identify where significant areas of housing and employment growth will take place in the district up until 2026. CPRE notes with concern that despite the Council’s welcome and oft-repeated opposition to the urban extension of Oxford into the Green Belt, south of Grenoble Road, the draft Core Strategy proposes Green Belt reviews for both Berinsfield and Wheatley. Albeit on a smaller scale these proposed extensions into the Green Belt are just as much in conflict with the Green Belt and its purposes as the proposed extension south of Grenoble Road. CPRE Oxon will be objecting to this Green Belt review when it responds to the consultation. The draft Core Strategy is to be discussed by SODC Cabinet on 5th March. The official consultation by SODC will only begin after the document has been approved by the SODC Cabinet and amended where necessary, with a consultation period of 18th March to 1st May indicated as being probable. See: South Oxfordshire Core Strategy Preferred Options Consultation Paper. See: Consultation responses by CPRE Thame District and CPRE Wallingford District. What you can do To find out more and how you can get involved visit: SODC Core Strategy webpage. Or phone SODC planning policy on: 01491 823725. February 19 2009: CPRE expresses concern that an updated map of the 'northern gateway' site, released by Oxford City Council, has been enlarged to take in part of the Green Belt. In a letter to the Oxford Times today (19 February), CPRE Oxfordshire expresses its concern that the city has enlarged the site for the so-called ‘Northern Gateway’ to Oxford at Pear Tree, by a third, increasing it to about 60 acres, taking in a stretch of Green Belt, lying south of the A40, and a piece of Green Belt to the north at Peartree Hill Farm. We see no justification or rationale for the city to take any Green Belt land. Moreover, no such plan was suggested in the city’s consultations to which we responded. See: Oxford Times letter (19 February). See: Proposed site for the Northern Gateway showing the Green Belt. January 12 2009: CPRE writes to Secretary of State requesting the suspension of the publication of the South East Plan in the light of the recommendations made by the Environmental Audit Committee. See: CPRE letter to Secretary of State. January 12 2009: CPRE writes to the Boundary Committee to register its objection to the request made by Oxford City for a boundary extension. See: CPRE letter to the Boundary Committee. 2008 3 December: House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee say housing targets are putting pressure on the Green Belt. 11 November: Prime Minister's Office responds to SODC's 'Hands Off! Our Green Belt' petition. 21 October: Oxford City Council plot to fast track plans to grab Green Belt land. 7 October: SODC kept in the dark about boundary review. 26 September: South Oxfordshire District Council says no to boundary review. 19 September: Oxford City Council is looking to annex enough Green Belt land to build at least 12,000 homes as part of a proposed urban extension. 8 September: Oxford City Council bids to change its boundary with SODC to pave way for urban extension. 25 August: CPRE Oxon response to SODC Consultation. 7 May: CPRE Oxon News Release 'Oxford Green Belt - Robustly Protected or Under Threat?'. 7 May: CPRE NO News Release 'Green Belt Loss a Daily Reality Despite Government Pledges'. May: CPRE NO Briefing 'Green Belts - Robustly Protected or Under Threat?'. May: SODC "Hands off our Green belt" campaign. April: Proposed eco-town, Weston-Otmoor, of upto 15,000 dwellings. Approximately 28% of the proposed 800 hectare (2,000 acre) site lies within the Green Belt. March: Proposed extension of the Thornhill Park & Ride in the Green Belt aims to create a ‘Transport Hub’. March: Oxford City Council proposes to erect up to 20 wind turbines in the Green Belt. February: In a letter to the editor of the Oxford Times, Helena Whall argues that Oxford is no place for windfarms (8 February). January: Planning Inspectorate rejects OCC application for lighting on the grounds that it would cause light pollution and ‘add to the creeping urbanisation into the Green Belt’. December 3 2008: House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee say housing targets are putting pressure on the Green Belt. In a recent report, "Greener homes for the future? An environmental analysis of the Government's housebuilding plans", published on 3 November, the House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee calls on the Government to revise housebuilding targets in light of the economic downturn, or risk unleashing a swathe of greenfield development. Responding to the report, Kate Gordon, CPRE’s senior planner, said: "The Environmental Audit Committee’s excellent report hits the nail on the head. We wholeheartedly endorse its recommendations, and share the deep concerns of the Committee’s members. The Government has a good record on building on brownfield land but the pressure for greenfield development will intensify in an economic downturn. Inflexible Government targets and planning rules are forcing local councils across the country to needlessly allocate greenfield land for housing. Without a policy change local authorities will have no choice but to grant permission for greenfield development." The Environmental Audit Select Committee’s key recommendations: The Government should urgently review the basis of its target for building 3 million new homes by 2020. A clear sequential test favouring brownfield sites for development over greenfield sites should be reintroduced into planning policy. Targets to make all new homes zero carbon by 2016 should be used to speed up the development of community renewable energy sources for local neighbourhoods. Government should look urgently at introducing feed-in tariffs as a way of making zero carbon homes more financially attractive to developers. Eco-town proposals should be re-examined to ensure they have good public transport links, and are located close to commercial centres and employment opportunities, so that they do not lead to large rises in road journeys. All major housing building developments from 2016 should have to meet the same environmental tests as eco-towns. The Government should investigate the potential for the redevelopment of vacant building to create up to 1.2 million new homes. Despite the current market downturn, the Government should ensure that minimum standards for public transport and green infrastructure apply to all new developments. More aspects of the Code for Sustainable Homes – not just energy efficiency – should become mandatory for builders from 2010. The Government should suspend the implementation of its regional spatial strategies until it has carried out and published an environmental appraisal of its house-building targets. CPRE Oxfordshire welcomes the Committee's report, in particular its acknowledgement that the Government's housing targets are putting pressures on the Green Belt and that the test of "exceptional circumstances" for building in the Green Belt should be set higher. See House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee Report. See CPRE National Office Press Release. November 11 2008: Prime Minister's Office responds to HandsOff! Our Green Belt petition. The Prime Minister's Office has responded to the petition submitted by John Howell, MP, South Oxon, to honour his pledge to protect Green Belt land, and to not allow proposals for 4,000 houses within the Green Belt in South Oxfordshire to be included in the South East Plan. 566 people signed the petition. To view the Prime Minister's response click here. October 21 2008: Oxford City Council plot to fast track plans to grab Green Belt land. At a meeting of the Executive Board on Wednesday 22 October the City Council plans to set up a joint venture to develop land South of Grenoble Road with Magdalen College and Thames Water to ensure that the massive ill-gotten gains that would result from this plan – should it ever be permitted – will be equally shared amongst the plotters. They are also proposing to spend £30,000 of taxpayers money on a consultant’s report into the way this Green Belt despoliation might be structured. At the same time the City Council are trying to grab the land in question – and hundreds of acres more besides – off South Oxfordshire District Council in order annex it to the City and thereby become the planning authority deciding the development. Quite apart from CPRE's objections to the unnecessary grabbing of Green Belt land – the City has long ago admitted that more than all of the houses needed to solve the City’s claimed housing problem could be built on land already within the City boundaries – how can it be proper for the City to be deliberately setting up a development consortium which would involve potential huge financial gain to the City itself as well as at the same trying to become the Planning Authority deciding whether this lucrative plan can go ahead. This would set up an enormous conflict of interest and destroy any possibility of fairness in the planning decision. The City must drop one plan or the other. If it wants to form a developers consortium it must not try to grab planning control of the land; if it wants to be the planning authority it must put its land in trust and not be part of the developers cartel seeking to profit from planning permission. To be both the beneficiary of planning permission as well as the authority that grants it, as it is trying to be, makes total nonsense of the democratic process and a mockery of the checks and balances in the planning system. Quite apart from that it is surely wrong for the City to be deciding to blow another £30,000 of its long-suffering taxpayers money on a development which is not necessary; is not in the South East plan; has not been agreed by the Secretary of State; and is fiercely contested not only by South Oxfordshire District Council and the Parishes whose land would be grabbed if it went ahead, but by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and all who cherish the environmental and economic benefits the Green Belt provides and which an expansionist City wishes to destroy. Bob Price, Council Leader wrote to the Oxford Times on October 3rd that the City Council “are happy with large parts of the Green Belt” which only confirms that they and their developer associates mean to profit by building over all the rest of it if given half a chance. See Oxford City Council Committee Report. October 7 2008: SODC kept in the dark about boundary review. The leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, Ann Ducker, has today voiced concern at being kept in the dark over a review that could lead to a shift in the boundary between South Oxfordshire District Council and Oxford City Council. This could ultimately mean that responsibility for Green Belt land currently in South Oxfordshire would move to the City. Ann Ducker says: 'We first heard of this review from Oxford City Council, which out of courtesy told us it had accepted an invitation from the Boundary Commission to review its southern boundary.' 'I’m staggered that the commission only asked Oxford City Council and didn’t seek our views given the impact a review could have on our communities. The city has made no secret of the fact it supports development of Green Belt land in South Oxfordshire, which from the outset we have been opposed to and moving our boundary is a sneaky way of making it easier for this to happen. Any boundary change would also mean that affected residents would be subject to higher Council Tax and different arrangements for services such as waste collection. 'I’ve asked the commission to explain their actions and to ensure that we are fully involved in any future boundary discussions. In the mean time I want to reassure residents that we will continue to fight development in the Green Belt and keep them informed as more information emerges.' September 26 2008: South Oxfordshire District Council says no to boundary review. The leader of the South Oxfordshire District Council, Ann Ducker, has told Oxford City Council that she will not agree to a shift in the boundary between South Oxfordshire and Oxford City. In a press release issued on 29 September, she said: 'I'm pleased to confirm that the boundary commission has told us that it isn't looking to review this boundary and that it doesn't expect to start any reviews during 2009.' See SODC press release. September 19 2008: Oxford City Council is looking to annex enough Green Belt land to build at least 12,000 homes as part of a proposed urban extension. Oxford City Council has asked the Boundary Committee to redraw its boundary to take in approximately 530 hectares of Oxford’s Green Belt, stretching from Sandford-on-Thames in the west to Northfield Farm in the east, currently lying within the South Oxfordshire District. CPRE Oxfordshire believes the city wants to take control of this land, making it the planning authority, in an attempt to build up to 12,000 on Oxford's Green Belt. See Oxford Times, 19 September 2008. See Oxford Mail, 5 September 2008. See Oxford City Council's letter to Boundary Committee of England and attached map. See Oxford Green Belt Network. September 8 2008: Oxford City Council bids to change its boundary with SODC to pave way for urban extension. Oxford City Council has asked the Boundary Committee to redraw its boundary to take in the land south of Grenoble Road, near Greater Leys. The area currently lies within the South Oxfordshire District. The city wants to take control of the parcel of land, making it the planning authority, in an attempt to speed up the housing proposals. See Oxford Mail, 5 September 2008. August 25 2008: CPRE Oxfordshire responds to SODC consultation on South of Oxford Urban Extension. Following the announcement by the Secretary of State on July 17th in the Proposed Changes to the South East Plan, that there will be a review of the Oxford Green Belt, to allow for the building of 4,000 homes south of Grenoble Road, SODC were asked to demonstrate how it can accommodate the proposal in its planning documents if it becomes a requirement. As a key stakeholder, CPRE Oxfordshire were asked for its views on the issues and options raised by the proposal should it go ahead. In its response to the consultation on the South of Oxford urban extension, CPRE Oxfordshire made it very clear that we don’t believe that any incursion into the Green Belt is warranted, and that there is no credible evidence to justify it. See CPRE Oxfordshire's response to SODC Consultation 7 May 2008: CPRE Oxforshire News Release 'Oxford Green Belt - Robustly Protected or Under Threat? Nationally, there has been significant loss of Green Belt land since 1997 and more is planned, despite the commitment of the Prime Minister to robustly protect it. Over 1,100 hectares of Green Belt have been lost each year since 1997 and at least 45,240 homes – equivalent to a city the size of Bath - have been built on Green Belt land since 1997. A Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) investigation of the Government’s record on Green Belt policy since 1997 lists those threats to the Green Belt in Oxfordshire. May 2008: SODC "Hands off our Green belt" campaign. At the end of March, SODC initiated an on-line petition for people to register how important the Green Belt is to us. At the end of the petition time (August 2008) Downing Street will send all signatories a message giving the government's reason's for either doing something or not taking any notice of what the public wants. The main thing is to have 1000s of people signing up. So please take a few minutes to sign up and encourage friends living in or near the Oxford Green Belt to do the same. The address of the on-line petition is: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SOxonGreenBelt April 2008: Proposed eco-town, Weston-Otmoor, of upto 15,000 new homes. Proposed eco-town near Weston-on-the-Green near Bicester for 15,000 dwellings. Approximately 28% of this 800 hectare (2,000 acre) site lies within the Green Belt. March 2008:Proposed extension of the Thornhill Park & Ride in the Green Belt aims to create a 'Transport Hub'. To the east of Oxford, an extension of the Thornhill Park & Ride in the Green Belt aims to create a ‘Transport Hub’. Informal consultation with stakeholders ended on 20 March. The planning application is expected in 2009. CPRE Oxfordshire submitted a statement opposing the extension as part of the consultation process. March 2008: Oxford City Council proposes to erect up to 20 wind turbines in the Green Belt. Oxford City Council proposes to erect up to 20 wind turbines on four sites at Cuttleslowe, Hinksey, Horspath, and Sandford which will industrialise the Oxford Green Belt, harming its openness, along with the famous views of Oxford City. 2007 29 October 2007: Does Natural England threaten Oxford’s Green Belt? 12 October 2007: CPRE proposes a Green Grid for Oxford. 21 May 2007: 177 acres of green spaces within Oxford threatened, including parts of the green belt 19 April 2007: Oxford colleges set to make over £1 billion from Green Belt land. Oxford Student. 16 March 2007: Is a review of Oxford's Green Belt needed? CPRE statement. 14 March 2007: Twist in Green Belt battle. Green campaigners believe Oxford City Council has shot itself in the foot by admitting more homes could be built in the city than first thought. Oxford Mail article. March 2007. The Examination in Public into the South East Plan has looked at Oxford's green belt. Should there be a review of the boundaries of the green belt, as the City Council and developers, or should it remain intact. The EiP's interim conclusions will be published in the summer. More on the EiP. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oxford's Green Belt Oxfordshire's Green Belt is proving too tempting for developers to ignore but it is too precious for us to squander. The first green belt was proposed in 1935 to curb ribbon development along London's arterial roads. The 1947 Town and Country Planning Act gave local authorities powers to direct development and, in 1955, they were invited to establish their own green belts. In 1956, Oxford councillors had the foresight to suggest they designate the fields surrounding their city as green belt, following a campaign by CPRE and the Oxford Preservation Trust. Designation seems to have been complete by 1958. (For an introduction to Green Belts, see BBC News.) Green Belts now protect 13% of England. As designated open space surrounding many towns and cities, they play a critical role in creating a high quality of life for people in both town and country. They protect the open character of the countryside next to urban areas and stop sprawl, thereby encouraging urban regeneration. They are a place where we can get a bit of exercise, explore the countryside next door and enjoy some peace and quiet. They are where we grow food, ride horses, and walk and talk in relative peace. But the reality is that Green Belts face multiple threats, nowhere more so than in Oxfordshire where the proposals (below) currently threaten the rural character of our county. Kennington. A 30 acre site south of Sandford Lane in the Green Belt for 440 houses. The developers say it could be one of a necklace of smaller sites around the City, most of which would lie in the Green Belt. Sunningwell. Developers West Waddy ADP (acting on behalf of the local landowner Mr Ted Wilcox) propose up to 6,000 houses, a park and ride scheme and a waste incineration plant to be built wholly within the Green Belt, adjacent to the villages of Sunningwell and Bayworth. Land south of Grenoble Road. A 1,000 house mixed development was included in the initial Structure Plan draft. Oxford City Council has since suggested 5,000 houses. Magdalen College and Thames Water have promoted 3,000 houses and an extension to the Science Park. At the recent Examination in Public into the South East Plan, David Lock, a planner representing Magdalen College and Thames Water suggested that 4,000 to 8,000 dwellings was the minimum size for a sustainable urban extension, such as that his clients desired south of Grenoble Road. Shipton-on-Cherwell. A planning application by Kilbride Properties Ltd for development of the former limestone quarry (for a mixture of uses including industrial and commercial) was approved on 14 January by the County Planning Committee. This will have serious wildlife and traffic implications. Bebroke. Oxford University and Merton College are keen to develop land they own in Begbroke between Sandy Lane and Begbroke Lane, all of which is in the Green Belt. Oxford Airport. Up to 160,000 flights a year are planned as the airport shifts from training to commercial flights. A34 Corridor. Oxford City Council has proposed a Strategic Development Area along the A34 corridor stretching from the City south towards Abingdon and Didcot. This would be adjacent to the City and on the Green Belt. A major hub has been suggested at Lodge Hill. Horspath & Garsington. Oxford City Council, BMW and Brasenose College are pressing for housing and industrial development in the Green Belt. ! Thornhill Park & Ride. To the east of Oxford, an extension of the Thornhill Park & Ride in the Green Belt aims to create a ‘Transport Hub’. ! Weston-Otmoor. Proposed eco-town near Weston-on-the-Green for 15,000 dwellings. Approximately 28% of this 800 hectare (2,000 acre) site lies within the Green Belt. ! Wind Farms. Oxford City Council proposes to erect up to 20 wind turbines on four sites at Cuttleslowe, Hinksey, Horspath, and Sandford which will industrialise the Oxford Green Belt, harming its openness, along with the famous views of Oxford City. CPRE on the Green Belt CPRE South East told the inquiry into the South East Plan that: The current world scale success of London is at least in part because of the existence of the Metropolitan Green Belt… [which] has also protected market towns around London, which have maintained their character, and some have become significant economic hubs themselves and rivers of the economy in the South East… The academic, research and economic vibrancy of Oxford is proof that the established fact of the Oxford Green Belt has not limited this success… There is no case for a strategic review of the Green Belts within the [South East] region. Full statement. Further information A Green Grid for Oxford Urban extension south of Grenoble Road Oxford's green spaces are under threat Oxford Green Belt Network SODC's 'Hands Off Our Green Belt!' campaign. CPRE statement to the Examination in Public of the South East Plan Barker Report on Land Use Planning Oxford 2026: the City of Dreaming Spires has become the City of Dreary Sprawl Map of Oxfordshire Green Belt Parishes Map of the Green Belts of England The Oxford Green Belt Way Government Green Belt Policy (PPG2) Wikipedia on the history and facts of the green belts

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	All content Copyright © 2005-09 Campaign to Protect Rural England Oxfordshire unless stated. Published by CPRE Oxfordshire, Punches Barn, Waterperry Road, Holton, Oxfordshire OX33 1PP. 01865 874780. campaign@cpreoxon.org.uk. www.cpreoxon.org.uk. The Campaign to Protect Rural England promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country. National website: www.cpre.org.uk.