HUGH ROBERTSON SUPPORTS PARLIAMENTARY CALL TO PREVENT GARDENS BEING DEVELOPPED AS BROWNFIELD SITES

Hugh Robertson has backed a Parliamentary motion which seeks to remove gardens from the Government's definition of brownfield land.

It follows widespread disquiet across Kent about the issue particularly in areas such as Bearsted and Faversham.

The motion follows a bill, which Hugh Robertson also supported, that seeks to give local planning authorities discretion to decide each application on its merits. Currently all gardens are considered as brownfield sites and granting planning permission helps the government to meet its targets for development on brownfield sites.

Hugh said: “Gardens are crucial both to the wellbeing of homeowners and to the character and diversity of an area. It is ridiculous that planning regulations are drafted so as to encourage local authorities to build all over them.

“For this reason, they need to be removed from the definition of brownfield sites and local authorities ought to be allowed to decide each application on its merits”