CPRE The countryside charity

A chronic lack of genuinely affordable homes is fuelling a crisis in our countryside. Rural homelessness has risen 40% in 5 years and 300,000 people are on social housing waiting lists. As a monumental general election nears, we’re inviting supporters to join us in campaigning for more genuinely affordable housing in the countryside. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eHC6vnyB

Earlier this week we hosted a Rural Drop-in event at Parliament which was a fantastic success! We hosted the event with our partner organisations, Action with Communities in Rural England and Rural Services Network, and it gave us the opportunity to highlight the unique challenges and opportunities in the countryside. We welcomed MPs from across the country and various parties, all eager to discuss the pressing issues facing rural communities. From rural housing and agriculture to climate change and planning, we had in-depth conversations and shared plenty of resources to help inform future policy decisions. A big thank you to all the MPs and experts who participated and helped make the event so impactful!

🏡 Affordable, accessible housing is essential for a decent life, but many rural areas are falling short. For those with accessibility needs, a well-designed and accessible home is critical. After Gail’s amputation, without access to suitable housing, she had to crawl upstairs in her multi-story home, impacting her independence and mental health. After 3 years Carla and Gail were finally able to secure a house that suited their needs, thanks to Habinteg. This broken system needs urgent reform to ensure everyone has access to the homes that they need. https://lnkd.in/gaAZfENb

🚨 We're Hiring: Media Officer Are you passionate about protecting and enhancing the countryside? Join us at CPRE and make a real impact while growing your career. With a new government in power, it's a critical moment for our countryside – and we need you to help amplify our voice. We're looking for an experienced Media Officer to join our team. You'll work with journalists, draft press releases, and support in securing high-profile coverage of our important work. Apply today 👉 https://lnkd.in/eHDmikwn #Conservation #EnvironmentJobs #Advocacy #CharityJobs

As the new Government aims to build 1.5 million homes, challenges persist at new-build towns like Northstowe, Cambridgeshire, which still lack essential amenities. Our Planning Policy Lead, Elizabeth Bundred Woodward, spoke to the BBC to emphasise the need to rethink the reliance on large developers, advocating for stronger support for smaller builders and a commitment to prioritising brownfield sites over Green Belt land. It’s crucial to focus on delivering genuinely affordable homes that reflect local incomes, and we must also ensure that our green spaces are protected for future generations. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eXUxRrvS

From renewables to housing, the new government is pushing for change, and the National Planning Policy Framework is at the heart of it. While we support more housing and clean energy to tackle the climate emergency, the detail is important. We want to see: 🏘️ A mix of housing tenures, including social housing, in large developments. 🏗️ All new developments to be directed to previously used brownfield land first. 🌳Strong protections to be maintained for the Green Belt for people and nature and to rethink the proposed reclassification of areas of Green Belt as ‘grey belt’. 🏠 Set binding targets for affordable housing that reflect local incomes and meet community needs. 🚆 Focus on sustainable transport and well-sited housing to cut emissions and improve access to services. ☀️ Implement a rooftop-first approach for solar energy on new homes, industrial, and office buildings to meet solar targets without sacrificing green fields. ♻️ Balance economic, social, and environmental sustainability in national planning policy. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/e-cFQgiK

We’ve been working hard at #Lab24 to be a voice for the countryside! We've engaged in roundtables, fringe events, and met with MPs to discuss the issues that matter most to you, and the countryside: 🏘 Delivering more truly affordable housing 🌳 Protecting our Green Belt with a brownfield-first approach ☀ Realising the potential of rooftop solar We're committed to driving positive change to make sure our countryside can thrive, now and for future generations.

We're excited to be hosting the SME4Labour Fringe event alongside the Federation of Master Builders next Monday 23rd September: 'Ending the Monopoly: Reviving Rural Communities Through Small House Builders.' With the new government facing housing challenges, we'll discuss how diversifying the housebuilding market can meet needs while protecting our countryside. We want the government to: 👷 Support micro, small, and medium-sized builders 🏠 Tackle the affordability crisis 🔨 Commit to a brownfield-first approach Join us as we explore solutions to build a sustainable future! Book your free ticket 👉 https://lnkd.in/eJ5fpbda

🚨 We're Hiring: Planning Policy Officer Are you passionate about protecting and enhancing the countryside? Join us at CPRE and make a real impact while growing your career. If you are a keen planner and want to help us continue to effectively influence national planning policy and provide expert planning support, please do apply. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain planning policy experience and make a real difference, advocating for countryside-friendly solutions to the biggest threats facing rural England today. This is a unique opportunity to influence change, work on campaigns that matter to our countryside, and make a real difference to rural communities. Apply today: https://lnkd.in/eaBerRxM #Conservation #EnvironmentJobs #Advocacy #CharityJobs

We don't just want to protect our Green Belt, we want to make it even better. A more accessible, sustainably farmed, wildlife-rich Green Belt - for people, planet and nature. But how do we get there? 🤔 We've collaborated with the King's Foundation to produce a series of essays, written by experts - from planners to conservationists - who share their views on and visions for the Green Belt. It's a fascinating read, taking in a range of perspectives, and it's available now! Find out more 👇 https://lnkd.in/eWQ22p3X