Eric Pickles agreed on Tuesday 16 April to revise proposals that aim to increase home and commercial property extensions. The bill has come under considerable criticism from those who are concerned that it lacks clarity and works would lead to disputes among neighbours. Shadow communities and local government secretary Hilary Benn said: "We know they are not going to achieve the boost to the economy that he's suggested, they've engendered an enormous amount of concern and opposition from members of the House, organisations, local authorities and others." (Channel 4 News, 16 April 2013)

In London vegetated cover (lawn, tree canopy and other vegetation) from private domestic gardens is currently an estimated 22,000 hectares i.e. 14% of London is garden green space. An average garden area equivalent to 2.5 Hyde Parks is lost each year to hard surfacing and housing developments (London Wildlife Trust, GIGL, GLA, 2010). This loss is looking likely to increase once the government’s new permitted development rights is finalised.

Ministers announced last year that they wanted a three-year relaxation of the planning rules to allow single-storey extensions of up to eight metres for detached houses and six metres for other houses to be built without planning consent being required.

The Growth and Infrastructure Bill was amended last month by the House of Lords who stipulated that individual councils should be given the right to opt out of the planning rules changes. This came after criticism from CPRE National Office that the bill was further weaking the local planning system and protection of green spaces. Many Tory and Lib Dem rebels wanted to keep this change in the bill, but the government called for rejecting the amendment and sought a compromise with MPs. The government won the vote by 286 votes to 259 - a majority of 27 (BBC News, 16 April 2013).