NO RETURN TO “GARDEN GRABBING"

Local Liberal Democrats are delighted that the Coalition Government's National Planning Policy Framework, announced on Tuesday, confirms the end of a rule which made it difficult for councils to refuse building on gardens of existing houses.

Councillor Alan Lewis, Liberal Democrat representing Eaglescliffe, said, " in June 2010 we were pleased when the Liberal Democrat - Conservative coalition government announced the end of the 'garden grabbing', which had so changed Eaglescliffe over recent years. Under the previous government, the many pleas from Lib Dem Eaglescliffe Councillors to change the rules fell on deaf ears. Gardens were classified in the same way as derelict factories - as previously developed land. Beautiful old houses were demolished and the land along with the garden used for flats and their car parks. Houses were built in the back gardens of other houses. Local people worried that the character of Eaglescliffe was changing for ever.

"This welcome change in planning rules has now been included in the new national document. We support the re-use of genuine 'brownfield sites' rather than gobbling up the countryside, but we think that elected councils on the ground are best able to decide where more houses should go. We look forward to future applications being decided on the basis of Stockton's policies, not Westminster's. But we are sad that houses like The Garth are already lost for ever."