First published in February 2012, this guide was commissioned by CPRE Gloucestershire Branch to help communities, local authorities and others select the most appropriate approach to community-led planning for their local circumstances and to achieve the best outcome for their area through collaborative working. This is a rapidly evolving area and an updated guide has now been published (November 2013).

27 August 2014

The Joint Core Strategy, which proposes building over 30,000 homes in Gloucester City, Cheltenham Borough and Tewkesbury Borough by 2031 is flawed.  It fails to prioritise the use of derelict and vacant sites, gives no guarantee for the provision of essential infrastructure and affordable housing and poses an unnecessary threat to the Green Belt, according to the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s (CPRE) Gloucestershire Branch. 

CPRE Gloucestershire has six District Groups: Berkeley Vale; Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury; Forest of Dean; North Cotswolds; South Cotswolds and Tetbury; and Stroud.

We’re an environmental charity, with over 200 local groups, a presence in every county and 60,000 members and supporters – including more than 2,000 affiliated parish councils.

We believe a beautiful, thriving countryside is important for everyone, no matter where they live. Millions of town and city dwellers recharge their batteries with a walk or a bike ride in the local Green Belt, spend weekends and holidays in our National Parks, or enjoy fresh local produce. People who live in rural areas keep our countryside beautiful and productive.

Unlike many environmental charities, CPRE has no vested interests – we own no land, rely solely on donations and grants, and are politically independent.  We are possibly the only green group which has a completely holistic approach. Planning, in particular, is all about looking at the bigger picture, and our wide remit means we have to consider the whole of the country – rural and urban – when creating policy.  CPRE Gloucestershire has set out a vision for the countyside in 2026, drawn from CPRE's national vision.  You can view the vision here.

The CPRE Gloucestershire Awards were launched in 2007

The full list of Award recipients from 2007 to 2019 is listed in this section.

There is also a link at the foot of this section to more detailed information and photographs of the projects

Do you know of any recently completed projects in Gloucestershire’s towns, villages and countryside which are really outstanding in their contribution to the environment or to the local community and should be specially recognised? If so, CPRE Gloucestershire would like to hear about them.

CPRE Gloucestershire Awards recognise and celebrate projects which are exemplars of good practice. Nominations for Awards are welcome from any source - community, private, voluntary sector or partnerships of organisations - but must have the approval of the owner. Projects should demonstrate sustainability, involve improvements to the environment, whether natural or built, and be visible from public places.

An independent panel of judges will review the projects nominated, based on three broad categories:

1. well considered buildings – new, restored or converted;
2. innovative use of natural resources, including land and water;
3. projects developed by or for the local community.

Projects may cover more than one category

Examples might be:

• a community shop, recreation facility, village hall or heritage project;
• buildings which fit their setting, are good examples of sustainable construction and efficient in the use of energy;
• a new nature reserve or habitat with public access;
• a community orchard, re-establishing old varieties of fruit;
• water management projects such as wetland creation, reedbed sewage treatment, or a sustainable drainage system;
• projects that encourage access to local countryside.

All projects meeting the criteria for judging will receive the CPRE Gloucestershire Award. This comprises an attractive plaque for permanent display and certificates for the key players in each project. These are presented once a year at a special ceremony.

The CPRE Gloucestershire Awards scheme is not a competition. Rather, it is a way of recognising excellence in projects and there is no set number of Awards in any one year. The nomination form with criteria for judges can be downloaded below.

Our misson is to protect and enhance Gloucestershire's countryside.