Garden grabbing reaches all-time record

More than one in five new homes were erected on this brownfield land – which includes back gardens – in the region over the past four years compared with less than one in ten of the properties built between 1994 and 1997.

The Government says the figures show it was right to change planning laws that had classified gardens as brownfield sites – in the same category as derelict factories or disused railway sidings.

Ministers say that treating gardens as brownfield "previously residential land" had allowed developers to target them for housing. In June it gave councils increased power to prevent such planning applications by no longer classifying gardens within the category.

Between 1994 to 1997 just nine per cent of new homes were built on previously residential land in Yorkshire.

In the four-year period up to 2009 this had risen to 22 per cent.

Nationally it has increased to a quarter of all new homes compared with just over a tenth, 12 years earlier.

Harrogate had the highest level of homes being built on previously residential land in the region with 41 per cent of all new developments over the past four years.

It has also seen the biggest increase – up 31 per cent from just 10 per cent of new homes built between 1994 and 1997.

Other planning authorities which saw large increases in development on previously residential land in Yorkshire include Doncaster where it increased by 27 per cent over 12 years, Rotherham which saw an increase of 24 per cent and York which had a rise of 23 per cent.

Eight councils across the region have had a higher level of homes built on previously residential land than the national average including Hambleton, Richmondshire, Ryedale and Scarborough.

Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark said: "For years local people were powerless to do anything about the blight of garden grabbing as the character of their neighbourhoods was destroyed and their wishes ignored.

"We can see from these statistics that last year an even higher proportion of homes were built on previously residential land, which includes back gardens. Building on gardens robs communities of green breathing space, safe places for children to play and havens for urban wildlife.

"It was ridiculous that gardens were classified in the same group as derelict factories and disused railway sidings. Now we've changed the classification of garden land, councils and communities will no longer have their decisions constantly overruled, and will have the power to work with industry to shape future development that is appropriate for their area."

Previously the loophole allowed developers to scour maps for spare garden land and approach householders to get them to sell their property, infuriating some of the region's planning departments.

Earlier this summer the Yorkshire Post reported that Leeds Council claimed such developments tend to be "poorly designed with a lack of respect for their surroundings and to the character of the area."

A wildlife charity has backed the Government's efforts to preserve green space.

Richard Bashford, project manager for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds: "Many much loved species rely on green spaces like gardens, such as the song thrush and house sparrow, both of which have suffered massive declines in the last few years. House sparrow numbers have plummeted by more than 60 per cent and we have lost almost 75 per cent of song thrushes. If more garden space is turned into buildings they will likely decline further and the wonder that children experience on the doorstep will dwindle."