New data justifies clampdown on "garden-grabbing", says minister

The government has released statistics pointing to a dramatic increase in the number of “gardens grabbed” for development in the last decade.

According to the data supplied by the Department for Communities and Local Government, the percentage of new homes built on previously residential land – including back gardens – has increased to 25%. This is up from 11% in 1997.

Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark claimed the figures justified the government’s decision in June to reclassify residential gardens.

Previously planning guidance classified gardens as “previously residential land”, in the same brownfield category as derelict factories and disused railway sidings. The government has now amended Planning Policy Statement 3 to take gardens out of the brownfield category.

The government said the move would enable councils to protect gardens from inappropriate development by rejecting planning applications for development.

Clark said: “It was ridiculous that gardens were classified in the same group as derelict factories and disused railway sidings. Now we’ve changed the classification of garden land, councils and communities will no longer have their decisions constantly overruled, and will have the power to work with industry to shape future development that is appropriate for their area.”

Dr Simon Thornton Wood, Director of Science and Learning at the Royal Horticultural Society, said the RHS welcomed the measure.

He added: “Gardens like parks, are the green lungs of cities, improving air quality, controlling air temperature and flood risk and providing a haven for wildlife. Beyond these very practical benefits of gardens we know that gardening is great for physical and mental health.

“That's why we would like planning measures to go further than protecting existing gardens, to guarantee high quality green space and gardening opportunities in all new building developments, wherever they are."