Sutton Council’s planning policies mean gardens are safer in green and leafy Sutton.

 

Gardens are safer in Sutton as the Borough’s green policies have blocked “garden grabbing” for development to a greater extent  than anywhere else in London.

In 2006, 91 planning applications to build new residential units on back gardens got through in the Borough, but in 2010/11 only 23 were allowed.

The fall of 68 is by far the biggest across the capital and is the result of the authority’s policy of restricting back garden development, which was toughened up even more in the Borough’s recently-approved Site Development Policies document.

Richard says “As I have said in a number of speeches seeting out my views on planning at meetings of the Council, we are succeeding in maintaining the green, suburban feel of Sutton, and protecting our precious green spaces.”

The recent tightening of policy will make it even more difficult for would-be developers to build on back gardens in Sutton.

The Council toughened its opposition to back garden development in 2009 when its Core Planning Strategy insisted that any development must respect local context and distinctive local character.

And in March this year the Site Development Policies document made permission even more difficult to obtain with a series of rules to resist garden builders.

The policy insisted that ‘The council will not grant planning permission for the development of new housing units on back garden land, where the site either individually or as part of a larger street block:

·         Makes an important contribution to the character and appearance of the surrounding area; or

•         Is considered to be of ecological value; or

•         Is likely to make a contribution to mitigating the impacts of climate change; or

·         The proposal adversely affects the amenities of future occupiers or those currently occupying adjoining or nearby properties.