West Berkshire Council is more confident about the protection of local gardens when planning applications for development are submitted
Following the recent announcement by Eric Pickles, The Secretary of State for Local Government, that garden land is now reclassified as 'greenfield' and no longer as 'brownfield' (previously developed) land, West Berkshire Council is more confident about the protection of local gardens when planning applications for development are submitted. He has also removed the requirement of a national minimum density of building 30 dwellings per hectare.
Councillor Alan Law, West Berkshire Executive Member for Planning and Housing, said: "Taken together, these two changes will mean that 'local context' will carry much more weight when planning officers and Council members consider such applications.
"Importantly, it does not mean that a proposed development can simply be refused 'because it is in a back garden'. There is still no such planning reason for refusal, and it will still be technically possible to develop on some back gardens", continued Councillor Law.
"However, the weight of material consideration has dramatically shifted and local context, street scene, the 'feeling for the area' and local opinion as expressed in Design Statements and Parish Plans, will carry much more weight than they did previously."
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