Key Local Election Messages May 2025

CPRE Oxfordshire campaigns to protect the countryside for the enjoyment of all.

We recognise the need for more housing in the county, but this must be balanced with the protection of our natural environment. New development should prioritise genuinely affordable homes for those most in need and be located in the right places, where it supports rather than harms local communities and landscapes. We also support the urgent transition to renewable energy, but not at the expense of our countryside. Solar panels should be installed on rooftops and other suitable brownfield sites, not on valuable green fields. Together, we can create a greener, fairer Oxfordshire where nature and people thrive side by side.

This May, we are asking candidates in Local Elections to consider 6 key topics:

Affordable housing

 ‘Affordable’ housing should be in line with local incomes multipliers rather than market rates. The county should set ambitious targets for social rent, genuinely affordable housing. High density, sustainably designed homes, with infrastructure in place to support them, are the urgent priority for the county. 

Protecting the Green Belt

This year we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Oxford Green Belt. As well as maintaining openness around Oxford and preventing urban sprawl, the Green Belt plays an important role in mitigating against the effects of climate change, boosting biodiversity, alleviating flood risk and increasing food security. The Green Belt is the countryside next door for 165,000 people who live in Oxford City.

CPRE Oxfordshire commissioned a poll in 2024, over 80% of respondents say that the Oxford Green Belt should remain open and undeveloped. There are no second chances with Oxford Green Belt land. Once it is gone, it is gone for ever. CPRE Oxfordshire will always fight to keep Green Belt land open and undeveloped, as the vast majority of Oxfordshire people want.

Brownfield development

There’s space for 1.3 million new homes on brownfield land across the country. These sites are close to where people already live, work and go to school and these homes must be built before we think about developing greenfield sites and losing more of our green spaces for good. Local policy and political pressure must be exerted to help these homes on brownfield sites to be built, including the reclassification of land allocated for employment to revert to homes, this is especially pertinent for Oxford City.

Rooftop solar

Climate change is the biggest threat to the countryside and urgent action is required to stop it. We need to rapidly decarbonise our energy system in a way that protects the countryside for future generations. Rooftop solar is a common sense solution , generating vast amounts of cheap, low-carbon electricity on our rooftops . Local Policy should require solar panels to be included on all new homes and commercial buildings, and make it more affordable for people and businesses to retrofit existing properties.

Planning and Infrastructure Bill

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will affect the delivery of house building and infrastructure in the UK. CPRE Oxfordshire is calling for the Bill to set out the role of planning in delivering high quality and affordable housing, support community energy schemes, centre the principles of democracy and community voice, and ensure planning aligns with our commitments on climate and nature. You can find out more about CPRE’s asks for the Bill here. 

The Devolution Bill

The Devolution Bill will also affect rural communities, and CPRE is keen to ensure that devolution plans work for Oxfordshire and ensure that all rural places can unlock their full potential. We want to ensure that rural areas benefit positively devolution with bespoke structures to meet their needs, and with a connection across regional structures to ensure that decisions are not made in a vacuum.

Working together

CPRE Oxfordshire will work actively and positively with our new councillors.

Together, and with enough political will, we believe it is  possible to build and develop Oxfordshire for the future and protect the countryside for everyone’s benefit.