Overview

The Land Use (Gardens Protection Etc.) Bill aims to strengthen the protection of gardens and urban green spaces in England and Wales during planning processes. It mandates that planning authorities give special consideration to preserving these areas when making decisions.

Description

This bill amends the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The key change is the addition of a new section (71B) requiring planning authorities (including those acting under the Greater London Authority Act 1999 and the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004) to give "special regard" to preserving gardens and urban green spaces when carrying out their planning functions.

The bill also defines "green space" for the purposes of this amendment as:

• Land laid out as a public garden;
• Land used for public recreation;
• Areas of open space benefiting wildlife and biodiversity.

The bill applies to England and Wales only.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending. The impact on government spending is likely to be indirect and could potentially include increased administrative costs for planning authorities, depending on the level of increased scrutiny of planning applications.

Groups Affected

Groups potentially affected include:

• Planning Authorities: Increased workload and responsibilities in assessing planning applications impacting green spaces.
• Developers: Potentially stricter regulations and more difficult approvals for projects affecting gardens and green spaces.
• Local Communities: May experience increased protection for their local green spaces, leading to enhanced quality of life, but potentially also facing delays in development projects.
• Environmental Groups: Likely to see this bill as a positive step towards protecting biodiversity and urban green spaces.

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