The Government is giving local councils powers to prevent “garden grabbing”, whereby developers build homes on people’s gardens. The land is currently classified as “brownfield” for planning purposes, falling into the same category as derelict industrial sites. It is ridiculous that gardens have until now been classified in the same group as derelict factories and disused railway sidings, forcing councils and communities to sit by and watch their neighbourhoods get swallowed up in a concrete jungle.
Nationally, the number of houses being built on gardens rose from one in 10 to a quarter of new properties during that time, according to the Communities and Local Government. Figures show that in 1997, 18 per cent of new housing in Richmond was on “previously residential land”, but it rose to 39 per cent by 2008.
There are also plans to scrap Government targets for the numbers of properties in an area, to try and encourage the building of family homes rather than small flats. This new legislation should mean that for the first time we can stand shoulder to shoulder with people who do not want to see the character of their areas and homes ruined. It is about the greed of a small number of developers and landowners who for short-term gain are willing to ruin the character of local areas for everyone and for ever.
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