Clarification of new policy to prevent garden grabbing

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Dear Department for Communities and Local Government,

I would be grateful if you could further clarify the amendments you have made to PPS3 to prevent overdevelopment of neighbourhoods and ‘garden grabbing'.

In particular could you answer the following questions:

1 Where the views of a Local Authority and a village/town council are different, and the Local Authority is 'in partnership' with a Housing Association on an application where this issue arises, whose views take precedence?

2 Have any Local Authorities, Housing Associations, or their agents approached the DCLG or the Chief Planning Officer for guidance on this issue? If so, please list.

3 Please provide a link to any guidance issued by the DCLG or the Chief Planning Officer on this subject.

Many thanks.

Yours faithfully,

J A Giggins

Sangeeta Sofat,

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Giggins

Thank you for your e-mail of 15 September regarding clarification of the amendments to Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing. Please see attached my response.

Thanks

Sangeeta Sofat
Planning for Housing
Communities and Local Government
Zone 1/F6
Eland House
Bressenden Place
London SW1E 5DU

From: J A Giggins[SMTP:[email address]]
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 12:01:50 PM
To: CONTACTUS
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Clarification of new policy to prevent garden grabbing
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Dear Department for Communities and Local Government,

I would be grateful if you could further clarify the amendments you
have made to PPS3 to prevent overdevelopment of neighbourhoods and
‘garden grabbing'.

In particular could you answer the following questions:

1 Where the views of a Local Authority and a village/town council
are different, and the Local Authority is 'in partnership' with a
Housing Association on an application where this issue arises,
whose views take precedence?

2 Have any Local Authorities, Housing Associations, or their agents
approached the DCLG or the Chief Planning Officer for guidance on
this issue? If so, please list.

3 Please provide a link to any guidance issued by the DCLG or the
Chief Planning Officer on this subject.

Many thanks.

Yours faithfully,

J A Giggins

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Dear Sangeeta Sofat,

In response to question 1, you say that you cannot answer the question as the decision on planning applications rests with LOCAL AUTHORITIES. That to me is an answer. It is also why the policy change will not meet it's stated objective of preventing over-development on gardens (garden-grabbing), particularly as you are now incentivising Local Authorities to build more housing.

If the Government really wants to stop this practice, then it needs to issue clearer guidelines, and it also needs to introduce more public accountability for planning decisions. Third party right of appeal would be a start.

I would be grateful if you would pass my comments on to Mr Pickles. I have some specific examples I can supply to illustrate my points.

Many thanks.

Yours sincerely,

J A Giggins

J A Giggins left an annotation ()

I raised this question as this exact situation has arisen on a Planning Application in Hungerford, West Bershire. The applicants are Sovereign Housing and the Local Authority is West Berkshire Council. The application is due to be considered by the Western Area Planning Committee on 17th November 2010. The case officer has recommended approval of the application...

J A Giggins left an annotation ()

The application number is 10/01928/FULEXT: Demolition of existing buildings: redevelopment to provide 74 residential apartments (use class C3) for persons either over 55 years of age or receiving extra care, and with associated access, car parking and landscaping'