Bamford Councillor - concern over effect of planning regulations

Date published: 06/02/2007

Bamford Councillor Ian Duckworth has written to the Right Honourable Ruth Kelly MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to express his concern that "a mistake" has been made regarding planning regulations, the effect of which is that gardens have been classed as 'Brownfield' sites and developers are securing planning permission for high density developments inappropriately.

Councillor Duckworth's letter:

Dear Secretary of State,

I believe there has been a mistake made in planning regulations regarding "brownfield" sites.

In my Ward of Bamford which is part of Rochdale MBC, there are many homes with large gardens. Surprisingly under government legislation these are classified as brownfield sites, with the result that developers are almost always successful in gaining planning permission often building large concentrations of flats in areas where they are entirely inappropriate.

And often cause distress to nearby residents.

I do agree that planning departments should encourage building on brownfield land but I assume some sort of oversight must have occurred regarding gardens.

This could easily be rectified by reclassifying gardens as greenfield sites which they obviously are.

I would welcome your interest in this matter.

Yours Sincerely,

Councillor Ian Duckworth