Homes 'are being built in gardens'

Over a thousand new homes are built in back gardens in London every year due to a loophole in planning regulations, it has been suggested.

The Green Party has said that developers are able to construct such homes because the land is classified as brownfield, but has warned that such developments are endangering the capital's green spaces and could even increase the risk of subsidence in the local area.

Consequently, the party has said that the land should be reclassified as greenfield or even green belt land and the emphasis placed on true brownfield development.

"Records have only been kept since 2004/05, but since then the go-ahead has been given for 3,525 units to be built on gardens," advised Darren Johnson from the party, according to the Evening Standard.

"We all know that there is a vital need for new housing in London, but garden-grabbing developments are not the way to deliver them," Mr Johnson added.

Earlier this week it was suggested that the green belt could be broken up in favour of a more liberal approach to classifying what does or does not constitute protected land.

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