CPRE Kent, the countryside charity, is challenging the government’s decision to permit a housing development in the High Weald National Landscape (formerly AONB or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

The Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, on behalf of Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, has granted planning permission for 165 houses at Turnden, near Cranbrook, in Kent. 

This site is part of the High Weald National Landscape. This landscape, like many other National Landscapes across the country, is a medieval scene of beautiful countryside, farmsteads and ancient woodland. These areas are vital for our health and wellbeing and to fight against the increasing loss of our precious biodiversity and the climate crisis. They are unique and important areas and designated for their beauty and significance. 

Only 15% of the UK is within a designated National Landscape, yet the government dismisses these facts and the landscapes’ clear importance and legal status to grant planning permission. In doing so, we believe the government has not met its duty to enhance the landscape as it is legally bound to do.  

Please help us fight to protect the High Weald and other National Landscapes as we take this case to Judicial Review. Our challenge is based on the enhanced duty of decision-makers under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to seek to further the purpose of conserving and enhancing the landscape.

CPRE Kent, the countryside charity, believes that the case is of wider significance than the area in Cranbrook as this could set a dangerous precedence. We fight for our National Landscapes across the UK and to ensure the standard of statutory protection that such landscapes should enjoy.