CPRE Oxfordshire Warns Against “Green Belt Land Grab” in Response to LGR

The Dreaming Spires of Oxford

We firmly oppose Greater Oxford “Green Belt land grab” that could put Oxfordshire’s countryside at risk. Changes to local government must offer joined-up, strategic planning. In our response to the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) consultation, we have expressed support for whichever of the proposed options (either the single-county unitary or the two-unitary option) that best…

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Local Voices, Real Change: Why Your Community Needs You

A nightingale singing

From the preservation of our iconic Green Belt to the urgent need for safer cycling infrastructure, the challenges facing Oxfordshire today aren’t just headlines—they are the daily realities for people living across the county. But the most effective solutions don’t always come from the top down. In reality, they come from the residents who know…

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Novice Hedge Layers welcome in the spring

A young man working on a hedge while a judge looks on

On Saturday 28th February we held a novice hedge laying competition at Harcourt Arboretum where 36 competitors worked to rejuvenate 180m of hedge over the course of 5 hours. It was the perfect way to welcome in the spring and, with over 1300 visitors that day, the pressure was on for the competitors. Working singly…

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Land Behind the Moors… another Green Belt success

The sunsets behind a lush green field on the Land Behind the Moors

A planning application for 340 new homes on land known as “Land behind the Moors”, to the north of Kidlington and adjacent to St Mary’s Church, was considered by Cherwell District Council’s Planning Committee on Thursday 15 January. CPRE Oxfordshire has strongly opposed development on this site for several years. It was first proposed in…

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Letter to Oxfordshire

A view across the Oxfordshire landscape with hawthorn berries in the foreground

As we begin our centenary year, we’re sending this message to everyone: love your countryside and be part of its future. This is just the beginning – and we all have a part to play in shaping what comes next. If you share this vision, join the movement today, add your name to this letter and stand with us.…

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Too Big, Too Costly, Too Damaging: CPRE Oxfordshire responds to Thames Water Reservoir consultation

Image of proposed Abingdon reservoir

CPRE Oxfordshire has formally objected to Thames Water’s proposed South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO), warning that the scheme would cause unacceptable harm to farmland, the countryside and rural communities, while failing to demonstrate clear need, value for money or sustainability. In our response to Thames Water’s Statutory Consultation, CPRE Oxfordshire recognises the importance of…

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Why Is Cherwell Under Pressure to Approve So Many Houses — And Why Isn’t It Working?

three small model houses sit on top of various graphs

There has been widespread confusion and growing frustration across Cherwell about housing numbers: how many new homes are actually needed, why large developments are being approved outside local plans, and why councils are still judged to be “failing” on housing delivery despite thousands of permissions already being granted. CPRE Oxfordshire has been examining the situation…

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Illegal Dumping at Cherwell: A National Failure of Waste Regulation

A pile of waste reaching into the disctance between hedgerows

The scale of the illegal waste dump at Cherwell has rightly alarmed local residents and environmental groups. This is not just a serious case of environmental damage in one place, but a clear example of wider failures in waste regulation, environmental protection and joined-up infrastructure planning across England. A serious threat to the river The…

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