Garden grabbing ends in N.Ireland

[ilikecobwebs]

Came across this yesterday;

http://www.banbridgeleader.co.uk/news/WELLS-WELCOMES-39MAJOR-CHANGE39-IN.3931404.jp

Why can't this happen in England?

 

[plumbers mate]

A cynic would probably notice that this article was dated 1st April?
Hope the cynics are wrong.
A garden is obviously greenfield, otherwise no-one would want to eat anything grown there.
Politicians obviously buy in all their veg.

 

[ilikecobwebs]

Unfortunately gardens are not obviously greenfield; they fell foul of a loophole in the definition of brownfield and are being snapped up by developers hungry for building-land. Thousands of homes with large gardens have been sold off for blocks of flats, and very often it is period properties that are the victims. Current legislation supporting the call for more homes makes it almost impossible for local planners to reject applications for such developments....even if it ruins well-established neighbourhoods.
I've no idea whether or not it was a 1st April joke.....I am not cynical enough to look for trivial things like that..but there you are.

 

[plumbers mate]

I was being sarcastic, I'm afraid. I know they are cleassed as land ready for development really.