Derelict Land: Gardens

Grant Shapps
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2009, Official Report, columns 1503-05W, on gardens, (1) how long she expects the (a) first and (b) second stage of her Department’s review into the effect of development on gardens to take; and if she will make a statement;

(2) on what date her Department wrote to local planning authorities in England to request data on the number of planning permissions granted or refused for housing development within the cortilage of an existing house; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the letter.

Margaret Beckett
I refer the hon. Member to the letter my Department wrote to all local planning authorities in England to request data for the review of evidence on 3 April 2009. A copy of the letter was placed in the library (reference DEP2009-1135) on 17 April 2009.