Burstow Takes Action to Stop Garden Grabbing

9.55.17am GMT Mon 1st Feb 2010

Local Liberal Democrat MP, Paul Burstow, is stepping up his campaign to strengthen local control over development this week. In a series of parliamentary actions the Sutton and Cheam MP will lobby the Government to change the designation of garden land from 'brownfield' to 'greenfield' land increasing the protection that Councils can give to it when deciding planning applications.

Today Mr Burstow will present two motions to Parliament. The first calls for changes to planning rules to allow Councils to protect garden land. The second calls for more say for local residents over planning applications proposing that planning appeals should be decided locally rather than by a Government appointed inspector from Bristol.

Later in the week Mr Burstow will drive home his campaign by presenting a petition in Parliament calling on the House of Commons to put pressure on the Government to tackle garden grabbing.

Paul Burstow MP said, "Garden grabbing by predatory developers is a real concern. I have had lots of letters from residents who feel frustrated that the Council seems unable to control predatory developers buying up and building on garden land.

"When the Council does turn down a planning application the developer can take it to an appeal when a Government appointed Inspector from Bristol takes the decision. Far too often those decisions lack an understanding of the local situation and the true impact the development will have. I want the Government to trust local people to take control of local planning decisions."

ENDS

EDM 747

PROTECTION OF GARDEN LAND

28.01.2010

2 signatures

Burstow, Paul

Brake, Tom

That this House believes that garden land should be designated as greenfield land and afforded greater protection in national planning guidance; notes that garden land provides vital habitats for wildlife and essential amenities for householders; and calls on the Government to amend planning guidance to protect garden land from predatory developers.

EDM 748

ESTABLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENT LOCAL PLANNING APPEALS COMMITTEES

28.01.2010

2 signatures

Burstow, Paul

Brake, Tom

That this House believes that the current arrangements for determining appeals against the refusal of planning permission by local authorities places too much power in the hands of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Planning Inspectorate; further believes the Planning Inspectorate to be remote and its Inspectors not sufficiently aware of the local conditions when determining appeals; congratulates the London Borough of Sutton Council for applying to use powers under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 to pilot the establishment of an independent local appeals committee to discharge the function of the Planning Inspectorate; and calls on the Government to approve Sutton's application.