Call for action on 'Land Grabs'

The vexed issue of rear garden developments took a new turn at the Council Meeting on 18th July 2007 when on a motion from Conservative Group Leader, Councillor Philip Hickson, the Council agreed to a motion to make representations to Government about inappropriate back garden developments.

In the debate Cllr Hickson said that, left unchecked, greedy developers would continue to prey on premier suburbs like Allestree and Chellaston, buying up houses sitting on large plots of garden and then cram them with intensive developments. The developers had no interest in the areas they had earmarked and were only interested in a fast profit. However in the process well established suburbs like Allestree were being effectively vandalised and ruined.

In accepting the motion, Council agreed to make representations to central Government for more structured guidance to Councils and better powers for local Councillors to oppose such developments when quality of life issues and loss of visual amenity would occur.

A reply is awaited with eagerness. Tere is a new housing minister in post and this problem is not unique to Derby and we therefore hope for a favourable response to a horrible problem for local residents affected by such intrusive developments.