‘Garden grabbing’ raised by York MP (From York Press)

‘Garden grabbing’ raised by York MP Julian Sturdy

8:30am Thursday 20th September 2012 in News

FEARS over “garden-grabbing” developments in York have been raised in Westminster by one of the city’s MPs.

Julian Sturdy , who represents York Outer, said residents needed to be supported over their opposition to open and green space in their communities being targeted for development, in a question to the Minister for Planning, Nick Boles.

Mr Sturdy told the minister garden-grabbing had caused “great concern” in rural parts of his constituency and communities felt they had “little say over this form of development”, asking for him to give assurances the Government will provide opportunities for the public to “stand up for their area”.

He said he was encouraged that Mr Boles stressed neighbourhood plans and the community right-to-buy scheme could “empower local people”, but feared the uncertainty over a planning framework for York following the withdrawal of City of York Council ’s Local Development Framework core strategy, a proposed blueprint for the future development of the city which was scrapped this summer, would give builders free rein.

“It is important, now more than ever, that the council gets its act together and adopts a Local Plan to ensure residents are more involved and can influence planning decisions,” he said.