New powers to stop 'garden grabbing' by property developers have been welcomed by Croydon's Conservative Council.
The council believes the newly introduced regulations that will prevent the loss of more back gardens will reinforce its ambition to resist the kind of inappropriate house building that has been allowed to undermine the character of suburban areas.
This week's coalition government announcement that removes gardens from the 'brownfield' development category will strengthen the position the council takes through its 'residential character appraisal' approach. Planning guidance that classified gardens as 'previously residential land' meant it could be difficult in some situations for the council to support residents in resisting inappropriate development on back gardens. And even when the council did reject applications, it found decisions could be overturned on appeal to planning inspectors.
Reclassifying garden land will clarify the policy position and enable the council to protect the character of neighbourhoods. This means Croydon Council's Core Strategy approach of 'residential character appraisals' and polices that protect the character of the different places that make up the borough will now have a much closer fit to the national planning policy framework. The reclassification will not prevent home extensions.
Jason Perry, cabinet member for planning, conservation and climate change, said: "This early announcement from the new Government will be widely welcomed in many parts of Croydon where the traditional nature of suburban areas has been under siege by developers who were supported by national planning policy. I am also delighted that the minimum density target is being scrapped. This means we can work with local people to decide the appropriate level of density for an area and encourage the kind of mix of homes that is needed locally. We need to ensure the planning system works for community interests and safeguarding gardens from unwanted land grabbing is a sensible step in that direction."
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