Council takes steps to prevent 'garden grabbing' (From Harrow Times)

Harrow Borough Council takes steps to prevent 'garden grabbing'

9:10am Friday 4th January 2013 in News By Emma Innes

Harrow Borough Council is taking steps to stop ‘garden grabbing’, in which developers seek to exploit plots at the expense of green space.

The council has drafted a guide for builders and landowners to help them to understand what planners consider to be acceptable garden development.

The guidance aims to help people wasting time and money on planning applications which will not be accepted.

A consultation will now be carried out on the document. If approved, it will give weight to the authority's presumption against garden development, provide an official definition of what constitutes a garden and help the council to decide whether proposed developments are acceptable.

Harrow Council portfolio holder for planning, Councillor Keith Ferry, said: “These developments can lead to very built-up areas and have a detrimental impact on neighbourhoods.

“We know there are people in the community who do have strong views about them and we welcome the opportunity to be able to ask the people of Harrow for their thoughts on the guidance we are planning to issue.”