Posts by Nemone Caldwell
Government Chooses Worst Option for Oxfordshire, Putting Green Belt at Risk
CPRE Oxfordshire says the Government has chosen the worst of the available options for local government reorganisation in Oxfordshire, selecting the only proposal that fails all three of its own published tests for value for money, appropriate scale and efficient service delivery — while also placing the Oxford Green Belt under the greatest threat of…
Read MoreCPRE Oxfordshire calls on Government to reject Botley West Solar Farm
CPRE Oxfordshire has called on the Government to reject the proposed Botley West Solar Farm, warning that the development would cause unacceptable harm to the countryside, rural communities, productive farmland, and the setting of a World Heritage Site. In our response to the Secretary of State’s consultation on the Development Consent Order process, CPRE Oxfordshire…
Read MoreConcerns Expressed over the Oxfordshire Strategic Rail Freight Interchange
CPRE Oxfordshire have formally registered our interest in the examination of the proposed Oxfordshire Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) and submitted detailed comments to the Planning Inspectorate setting out why we believe the scheme should not proceed in its current form. While we support moving freight from road to rail in principle, we are not…
Read MoreBefore the gates open: have your say on the Puy du Fou proposal
Have your say on the proposed Puy du Fou theme park before 4 July CPRE Oxfordshire is urging members and supporters to share their views on proposals for a major new theme park, Puy du Fou, which would be built on open farmland bordering the village of Bucknell, north-west of Bicester in the Cherwell district.…
Read MoreCalling All Countryside Heroes!
Do you know someone positively transforming Oxfordshire’s countryside? Nominate them today. CPRE are looking for individuals, projects and organisations which are making a positive difference to the county’s countryside to be nominated for CPRE’s national Centenary Awards. Launched to celebrate CPRE’s 100th anniversary, the awards will recognise inspiring people and practical projects that are helping…
Read MoreCPRE Oxfordshire welcomes new Director
Having bid farewell to Lisa Warne at the end of May, we are delighted to welcome Marcus Gilleard as the new Director of CPRE Oxfordshire. Marcus brings a wealth of experience from his 30-year environmental career. Following a Master’s degree in Environmental Technology at Imperial College, he joined the Oxford-based management consultancy ERM working on…
Read MoreLocal Elections Across Oxfordshire
Local elections took place in May in Cherwell, Oxford City and West Oxfordshire, while no elections were held in Vale of White Horse or South Oxfordshire. Across the county, the elections saw gains for the Greens in Oxford City, Conservatives in West Oxfordshire and Reform UK in Cherwell. Labour retained its position as the largest…
Read MoreTime to Show Your Countryside Some Love!
CPRE Oxfordshire is delighted to announce that we have been selected to take part in Big Give Earth Raise, an exciting national initiative where every donation is doubled for one week only. This incredible opportunity will support our Love Your Countryside campaign—an ambitious project to revive neglected meadows in Oxford’s Green Belt, safeguard threatened grasslands,…
Read MoreCPRE Oxfordshire Warns Against “Green Belt Land Grab” in Response to LGR
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…
Read MoreProposed Planning Reforms Raise Serious Concerns for Oxfordshire’s Countryside
A revised version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was issued for consultation on 16th December 2025 with a consultation running until 10 March 2026, which can be found here. CPRE Head Office have issued a summary of the key changes at a national level which can be found here. At a county level, early…
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