Garden Grabbing
Posted by Lee Scott, MP for Ilford North, at 08:19, Tue 29 June 2010:
Back in 2000 the then Labour government introduced new planning regulations that redefined private gardens as ‘brown field’ land. This has the effect of reducing them to the same status in planning as industrial wasteland. Over the past ten years there has been a massive increase in the building on private gardens. This ‘infill’ development has put a huge strain on local communities and councils. They have put extra pressure on the local infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals. There has been a loss of vital green space and the character and appearance of our neighbourhoods have been damaged.
Local planning authorities have habitually been forced to give approval for garden grabbing planning applications that undoubtedly lacked any local support. The Labour government also set density targets that required development at 30 dwellings per hectare. This policy has stopped local councils from protecting the character of our neighbourhoods and prevented them working in the best interests of their communities. By their very nature garden grab developments hardly ever exceed the size threshold at which affordable dwellings have to be provided. What this has led to is the situation in which half of all new build is now in the form of flats and made the shortage of family homes even worse.
Last week Greg Clark the Minister for Decentralisation and Planning announced new planning guidelines which come in to effect straight away. From now on private gardens will no longer be classed as brown field land and the housing density target set in Whitehall is scrapped. These common sense reforms will restore to local councils a freedom to make planning decisions that are a match to local needs and reflect the nature of each part of their area. Councils will have the discretion to allow high density building, for example in a town centre but our goal is to ensure that there are more family homes with gardens can be build as a part of each new development. The affordable housing rules are not altered by this new policy and the new government will continue to protect the Green Belt.
Lee Scott.
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Posted by Thillayampalam Parameshwaran, 08:46, Tue 29 June 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
The new policy on planning applications for new housing is very good.I support it fully.
Posted by Riaz Bhatti, 10:00, Tue 29 June 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
'Garden grabbing' has so many negative aspects. Increasing population density, changing the outlook of the area, building of flats etc etc.
What is really needed is a realistic planning framework which allows for a good range of dwellings in areas where the demand exits.
We need to look at developing real 'brown field' sites and look again green belt development. We must put the needs of families over the perceived threat of 'urban sprawl'.
Posted by maureen henderson, 14:15, Tue 29 June 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
I moved to 'leafy' South Woodford some 17 years ago because it was just that -a leafy suburb for my children to grow up in. Now it has become an inner city urban environment with all the horrors that brings. Unfortunately it seems the only way out is to do just that; move out! Thus I am very happy to read the article
Posted by Carolynne Spencer, 15:46, Tue 29 June 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
Does seem to be sensible. Still glad to see the requirement to protect the green space.
Posted by Edward Shaw, 07:29, Wed 30 June 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
Very good news re garden grabbing. There are far too many flats being build in this borough and they will be the slums of the not to distant future, as nobody with a family really wants to live in such tiny boxes. Having lived in this area all my life I do realise that people need homes but they should blend in with what was already established. Can we please have a campaign now to get our front gardens free of rubbish, and stop the paving. Edward Shaw Gants Hill
Posted by David Brown, 18:30, Tue 7 December 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
Dear Mr Scott
Can I just lend my support and say how much I believe your constituents will support your decision to vote against the massive hike in students' fees and withdrawal of support for higher and further education. In my view this isn't a matter for abstention and the idea we can be fooled that peripheral arrangements make education MORE affordable is an insult to the electorate. Elite universities clearly look at current demand and wonder why they can't ease their finances by taking the richest: this is unacceptable as a public policy, results in fees way out of proportion to other Eutopean countries (and all but the elite US Ivy League) and it is up to the government to say so and safeguard justice in access to education. Thank you for your vote on this issue. D A Brown, Hainault