Healey blames councils for failure to tackle "garden grabbing"

Local authorities have the powers to tackle “garden grabbing” but often fail to have the necessary policies in place to deal with the problem successfully, the housing and planning minister claimed this week.

John Healey’s comments came after 40% of 127 councils surveyed said they considered inappropriate building on back gardens an issue in their area. Local authorities in the South East, London and the West Midlands were more likely than their counterparts elsewhere to report problems. However, of these councils raising it as a ‘live issue’, only 5% had specific, local policies in place.

The report by Kingston University concluded that councils with local development frameworks and robust guidance in place were more successful at stopping inappropriate development on garden land.

In 2007/8, 6,892 dwellings were refused on appeal and 1,739 were granted permission. This, the government said, demonstrated that independent planning inspectors uphold decisions to stop development if local policies are in place.

Healey insisted that the issue was not a widespread, national problem. He nevertheless issued updated national policy advice “to make crystal clear that previously developed land, which can include garden land, is not necessarily suitable for development, and that the decisions to stop unsuitable building on gardens rest at a local level”.

He has also 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.

The minister said: “Councils are leaving an open door for inappropriate development if they do not have local plans in place, and the power to stop this lies in their hands. Councils already have the tools they need to deal with this issue and this evidence shows that when they have a local policy in place they can accurately judge the need for new homes on previously developed land, using their own discretion, and protect the essence of a neighbourhood.”