Back gardens lost ??

The Government allowed back gardens to be classed as brownfield land so potentially allowing housing development within them if other planning considerations were acceptable so it is no surprise that the unpopular application to build a small estate of housing in the back gardens of a number of properties on Waldingfield Road, Sudbury has got permission at Appeal.

The developer did the usual thing, got refused permission so came back with a modified plan and then another till eventhough councillors rejected it against planning officers recommendations, the changes were enough to win at the independent planning inspecorate.

The test will now be whether the owners of the gardens sell up to the developer. Without land this development cannot happen. Yet the precedent was already set in a number of other places in the town but this decision well and truely sets the potential for more applications like this.

There are some other important questions. Shouldn't property owners have the freedom to sell part of their gardens for housing? Or should there be a ban? Would a ban mean more countryside is lost if gardens cannot be built on? Aren't gardens and green space important for quality of life and design of an estate? Aren't gardens important as wildlife refuges in an urban world and don't they help deal with water runoff? Can the existing rules stop development in gardens which is unsuitable?

There are no easy answers here, as little new housing means unaffordable house prices for our young people. Some of the people opposing garden use would also oppose building on the fields around the town edge.

What would we do if a developer approached us to sell a piece of our garden? Individually we might think thats ok till we turn around and find all the other individuals think the same and then collectively we might just think what have we done?

It seems to me that some back gardens might be suitable. BUT it seems to me that the designation of brownfield land needs removing as it makes it easier for the developer. Building in gardens should be the exception not the rule.

Let us hope Waldingfield Road residents have not signed up to sell.