The End of Garden Grabbing

The Liberal Democrat - Conservative coalition government yesterday announced the end of the Garden Grabbing which has so changed Eaglescliffe over recent years. Under the previous government our pleas to change the rules fell on deaf ears. Gardens were classified in the same way as derelict factories - 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.

We welcome the change of planning rules. 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 lost for ever while The Grange still has a valid planning approval for demolition and redevelopment.