PROTECTION OF BACK GARDEN LAND

That this House welcomes the Government's review of the adverse impact of garden grabbing on local communities, through increased pollution, loss of biodiversity and the harm to the character of towns and villages; regrets that Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 (PPG3) currently requires local authorities to consider gardens as brownfield sites; further notes that this means a gradual and uncontrollable loss of green space within urban areas; and calls for the Government to complete its review quickly and amend PPG3 to give local councils the right to exercise discretion as to whether to consider gardens to be brownfield sites.