CPRE Surrey

CPRE Surrey, the independent branch of the national countryside charity, CPRE, operates with a clear and urgent mandate: to protect, promote, and enhance the beautiful and thriving countryside of Surrey. Established as part of a nationwide network formed in 1926, the Surrey branch is a vital voice for everyone who values the county's open spaces. Its core mission is to find positive and lasting ways to enable nature and the countryside to thrive, today and for generations to come, recognizing that three-quarters of the county's land is covered by the London Green Belt. This analysis examines the foundational role of CPRE Surrey, its key campaigning activities, and its strategic importance in managing sustainable land use and development within this highly pressurized region.

I. Mission, Vision, and Core Objectives

CPRE Surrey's strategic planning is driven by a comprehensive vision for a countryside that not only sustains wildlife but also contributes significantly to public health and wellbeing.

A. The Guiding Principles

• Vision: A beautiful and thriving Surrey countryside that enriches all lives.
• Mission: To promote, enhance, and protect a thriving Surrey countryside by working with local communities and elected representatives.
• Fundamental Aim: To champion a more balanced, environmentally sustainable use of land across the county, campaigning strongly and tirelessly under the banner: "Speaking up for Surrey's countryside and towns."

B. Key Areas of Focus

The organization’s work is focused on several interdependent areas:

1. Land Use and Planning: Advocating for positive change in local planning that prioritizes sense of place, distinctive character, landscape quality, and community identity.
2. Environmental Quality: Campaigning for clean air and water, promoting tranquillity, and fighting for true darkness at night by seeking reductions in noise, pollution, and light disturbance.
3. Access and Wellbeing: Highlighting the vital importance of accessible green spaces for people's mental health and physical wellbeing, and encouraging local councils to improve facilities for walkers, cyclists, and riders.
4. Nature and Biodiversity: Responding actively to the climate emergency by campaigning alongside partners to conserve biodiversity and ensure that the economic recovery path is sustainable, greener, and healthier.

II. Strategic Activities and Campaigns

CPRE Surrey translates its mission into action through proactive engagement in planning, policy, and community mobilization.

CPRE Surrey (1) and POW Campaign Ltd (2) –v- Waverley Borough Council & Others

A. Protecting the Green Belt

The defense of the London Metropolitan Green Belt is a cornerstone of CPRE Surrey’s work. The Green Belt concept, which CPRE pioneered nationally, is absolutely vital in Surrey, where it covers the vast majority of the county. CPRE Surrey is actively involved in:

• Vigorous Campaigning: Working to protect the Green Belt and the countryside beyond it from all inappropriate development.
• Policy Consultation: Engaging in policy formulation at national, county, and district levels to ensure land serving Green Belt purposes is retained.
• Major Planning Applications: Making representations and appearing at public inquiries to scrutinize and comment on major planning proposals across all districts.

B. Addressing the Environmental and Energy Issues

The charity is actively involved in environmental issues, notably:

• Fossil Fuel Extraction: Campaigning against environmentally harmful schemes for hydrocarbon exploration and extraction, such as welcoming the suspension of oil drilling at Horse Hill.
• Sustainable Development: Promoting land evaluation and practices that lead to genuine net gain in biodiversity and sustainable land use, recognizing the fragility of vital ecosystems.

C. Community Engagement and Partnership

CPRE Surrey serves as a bridge between official planning bodies and local residents. They work in close partnership with:

• Local Groups: Collaborating with community groups and parish councils to empower local voices in the planning process.
• Rural Economy: Engaging with farmers and rural businesses to promote local agriculture and food production, acknowledging that a thriving farming community is essential to the long-term sustainability of the countryside.
• Transport Issues: Addressing the impact of traffic congestion and opposing increased air traffic (e.g., new runways or flight path increases at Heathrow and Gatwick) that affect the county’s quality of life.

III. Importance in the Surrey Context

Surrey represents a unique environmental challenge: it is one of the most affluent and highly developed counties in England, yet it retains a vast expanse of protected countryside.

The existence of CPRE Surrey is critical because of the intense, constant development pressure exerted by its proximity to London. The organization acts as a powerful check on development creep, ensuring that the necessary housing and infrastructure growth is guided by principles that protect the county’s irreplaceable natural capital and scenic landscape quality. By maintaining a professional, informed, and proactive presence in the planning sphere, CPRE Surrey helps safeguard the quality of life not only for its 2,000+ members and supporters but for all residents who benefit from the accessible, conserved green spaces on their doorstep.

Conclusion: A Century of Guardianship

As the wider CPRE network approaches its centenary, CPRE Surrey continues to be inspired by the foundational principles of its pioneers. It is a small but proactive charity whose combined skills and shared passion for the Surrey countryside allow it to make a significant, positive impact. By balancing the advocacy for a beautiful and accessible countryside with the pragmatic demands of the planning system, CPRE Surrey ensures that the county's legacy of open space, rural character, and natural environment is preserved and enhanced for future generations.