Housing and Planning Minister John Healey published new, independent research that shows inappropriate building on back gardens is not a widespread, national problem and is often linked to councils’ failure to have local policies in place.
He told the small minority of councils who reported issues in “hot spot” areas that the power to act is already in their own hands if they establish clear, local policies.
363 local planning authorities were approached for their views. Of the 127 who responded, less than half (50 councils) considered it an issue in their areas. Of those who reported a problem, only 5 per cent (7 councils) had specific, local policies in place. The report concludes that councils with local plans in place were more successful at stopping inappropriate development on garden land. In 2007-2008, 6892 dwellings were refused on appeal and 1739 were granted permission (approximately only one in five), demonstrating that independent Planning Inspectors uphold decisions to stop development if local policies are in place.
Mr Healey has today issued strengthened national planning guidance and instructed the Chief Planning Officer, Steve Quartermain, to write to planners across the country outlining how councils can identify and deal with garden grabbing through local plans, in turn giving them greater discretion to refuse inappropriate development.
The research demonstrates that local authorities can deal successfully with unwanted applications for garden development through the development of strong local policies. The report also finds that the Planning Inspectorate, the Government agency that deals with appeals, are supportive of local authority decisions about whether or not to develop on garden land, especially where local policies are in place.
The final report by Kingston University: Garden developments: understanding the issues – An investigation into residential development on gardens in England is available on the CLG website: Link
