Lib Dems act on saving green spaces
August 10, 2010 12:00 AM
Local Lib Dems have welcomed the Government's decision to end the 'garden grab' development which resulted from Labour planning laws.
In 2000 the Labour Government changed planning laws which reclassified gardens as 'brownfield' land and hence made getting planning permission much easier. Durham Lib Dems opposed this, claiming that it was ridiculous that gardens were classified in the same group as old factory sites. The result led to garden grabbing where a home owner would sell part of their garden and a new house would be built on it.
In Durham City developers found it much easier to gain planning permission for inappropriate developments and in doing so replace green spaces by concrete. Residents' views were ignored and in the few cases where Councils turned down applications they were overruled at appeal.
Now the Coalition Government has changed the classification of gardens. Elvet Cllr David Freeman is fully supporting the changes. 'This is very good news for many of us in the City centre. It puts power back in the hands of the Council and community and will assist us to make the right decisions for our neighbourhoods.
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