CPRE, now widely known as CPRE, the countryside charity, is one of England’s most influential and enduring environmental organizations. Founded in 1926, it has spent nearly a century advocating for a "beautiful and thriving countryside that enriches all our lives." Unlike many other environmental charities, CPRE does not own land or manage nature reserves; instead, it operates as a powerful campaigning and advocacy body, utilizing a unique grassroots network to influence planning policy, national legislation, and public opinion.
As it reaches its centenary in 2026, the charity remains at the forefront of debates regarding environmental issues, the housing crisis, and the sustainable use of land.
The origins of CPRE are rooted in the aftermath of the First World War. In the mid-1920s, a building boom threatened to consume the English landscape with "ribbon developments"—rows of housing stretching along new roads—and unregulated urban sprawl.
In 1926, Sir Patrick Abercrombie, a visionary town planner, and Guy Dawber, a renowned architect, founded the Council for the Preservation of Rural England. Their goal was to bring order to the chaos of development. They believed that the countryside was not just a scenic backdrop but a national asset essential for the health, spiritual wellbeing, and economic stability of the country.
Key Historic Milestones:
1920s–1930s: CPRE successfully campaigned for the Petroleum Act (1928) to curb intrusive roadside advertising and helped shape the Town and Country Planning Act 1932, the first universal recognition of rural planning in English law.
The 1940s: During the Second World War, CPRE members helped draft the legislation that would define modern England. Their 20-year campaign culminated in the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, which created England's first National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (now National Landscapes).
1947–1955: CPRE pressure led to the Town and Country Planning Act 1947, establishing the principle that landowners must seek permission to build, and the official birth of the Green Belt in 1955 to stop cities from swallowing their surrounding villages.
The strength of CPRE lies in its dual-layered structure. While a national office in London engages with Parliament and Cabinet ministers, the charity is underpinned by local CPRE groups in every county of England.
The National Charity: Focuses on high-level policy, producing in-depth research reports (such as the annual State of the Brownfield report) and lobbying for national legislative changes.
The Local Network: Composed of thousands of volunteers, local groups act as the "eyes and ears" of the countryside. They scrutinize Local Plans, provide expert advice to parish councils, and organize community resistance against inappropriate developments.
Political Independence: CPRE is strictly non-partisan. This allows it to hold governments of all colors to account, whether challenging "top-down" housing targets or advocating for better rural transport.
CPRE’s work is currently organized around several "pillar" themes that address the most pressing challenges facing rural England today.
One of CPRE’s most consistent messages is that we do not need to build on green fields to solve the housing crisis. They advocate for a "Brownfield First" policy—the reuse of previously developed land in urban areas.
Successes: Their research consistently identifies enough brownfield land to build over 1.2 million homes in England.
Democracy: They fight to keep local voices at the heart of the planning system, opposing reforms that would strip communities of their right to object to local developments.
For CPRE, the Green Belt is the "countryside next door" for millions of urban dwellers. It is vital for mental health, local food production, and nature recovery. The charity campaigns tirelessly against "boundary reviews" that would de-designate Green Belt land for luxury housing.
CPRE supports the transition to net zero but argues for a "land-efficient" approach.
Rooftop Solar: One of their major current campaigns is "Solar Rooftops First." They argue that prioritizing solar panels on warehouses, car parks, and new builds could provide a significant portion of the UK’s energy needs without industrializing thousands of acres of productive farmland.
Greening the Grid: They work to ensure that new energy infrastructure, like pylons and substations, is designed to minimize landscape impact and maximize community benefit.
Hedgerows are the UK’s largest "nature reserve," providing corridors for wildlife and sequestering carbon. CPRE’s "Hedgerow Heroes" campaign aims for a 40% increase in the length of the English hedgerow network by 2050. They organize practical "hedge-laying" events and provide funding for local communities to plant and restore these vital features.
The charity recognizes that the countryside must be a living, working place. They advocate for:
Permanently Affordable Housing: Ensuring that young people and key workers can afford to live in the villages where they grew up.
Rural Transport: Campaigning for the "revival of rural railways" and better bus services to reduce "hypermobility" and car dependency.
Sustainable Farming: Supporting farmers as the "guardians of the landscape" and promoting local food webs.
As the charity enters its centenary year in 2026, it has published a bold vision for what England could look like. This vision, originally drafted in 2009 and updated for the centenary, imagines an England where:
Urban regeneration has successfully greened our cities, reducing the pressure to build on greenfields.
The Green Belt is expanded and made more accessible for recreation and local food.
Dark Skies are protected from light pollution, allowing everyone to experience the wonder of a starry night.
Biodiversity has returned in a "rush of sights and sounds" through large-scale rewilding and nature-friendly farming.
In 2026, England faces an unprecedented "land-use squeeze." We need land for homes, land for energy, land for food, and land for nature. CPRE acts as the mediator in this conflict, providing the evidence-based arguments needed to ensure that we don't destroy the very things that make the English countryside unique in our rush for short-term growth.
Whether it is fighting the "litter plague," promoting "Star Count" (a citizen science project to map light pollution), or helping a small village navigate a complex planning application, CPRE remains the vital voice for the fields, woods, and hills of England.
The CPRE has evolved from a 1920s preservationist group into a modern, data-driven environmental powerhouse. It reminds us that the countryside is not a luxury for the few, but a necessity for the many. By joining CPRE, members aren't just "protecting a view"; they are investing in the resilience of our environment and the future of the English landscape.
