Burstow steps up parliamentary campaign to stop garden grabbing

9.06.00am GMT Tue 3rd Feb 2009

Sutton and Cheam MP, Paul Burstow, will today introduce a new law to stop developers from building on backgarden land. The Bill, which has the backing of MPs from across the country, would protect private gardens from development that is out of character with the area. As well as introducing the Bill Mr Burstow will present a petition of over 5,000 signatures to Parliament on Wednesday calling on the Government to change planning guidance and law to protect garden land.

Commenting Mr Burstow said:

"At the moment the law says that garden land is the same as brownfield land, it is ripe for development. The result of this misguided designation is that predatory developers flock to the suburbs to find garden sites they can build on. My Bill would put the brake on this practice and give local people a real say over development in their area.

"Thousands of local residents back the campaign. This week with the Bill, a Commons motion and the petition I plan to leave Labour Ministers under no illusion that my constituents want a fairer planning system that protects the character of the area, safeguards the environment and values the contribution garden land makes to the quality of life in towns."

ENDS

Notes to the editor

1. The text of the Bill is as follows:

Protection of Garden Land (Development Control) Bill

A BILL TO Protect private gardens from development which is out of character with the surrounding area; to make provision about the circumstances in which a planning application may be rejected by a local authority and about rights of appeal in such circumstances; to prohibit repeated planning applications in certain circumstances; and for connected purposes.

The Bill will be scheduled for a full debate on the 20th March.

2. The text of the motion is as follows:

EDM 636: PROTECTION OF BACK GARDEN LAND

29.01.2009 Burstow, Paul

That this House welcomes the Government's review of the adverse impact of garden grabbing on local communities, through increased pollution, loss of biodiversity and the harm to the character of towns and villages; regrets that Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 (PPG3) currently requires local authorities to consider gardens as brownfield sites; further notes that this means a gradual and uncontrollable loss of green space within urban areas; and calls for the Government to complete its review quickly and amend PPG3 to give local councils the right to exercise discretion as to whether to consider gardens to be brownfield sites.

3. The text of the petition is as follows:

To the House of Commons.

The Petition of residents living in Belmont, Cheam, Sutton, Stoneleigh and Worcester Park in the London Borough of Sutton, and others,

Declares that the quality of life of residents is harmed by the designation of garden land as brownfield land, because it allows inappropriate development to take place. Suburban back gardens have ecological, environmental and social value that should be protected from unwanted development.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon Her Majesty's Government to change planning policy guidance and planning law to allow local councils to develop and implement planning policies that protect private gardens from development which is out of character with the surrounding area.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.