GARDEN-GRABBING in the district has reached record levels according to statistics newly released by the Government.

In the Epping Forest District the percentage of homes built on previously residential land, including back gardens, increased from 18 per cent in 1994 to 43 per cent by 2009.

The figures put the district in the top 5 garden-grabbing areas in the whole of the East of England behind only Castle Point, Dacorum, Rochford, and Welwyn Hatford.

Gary Grant, 57, of Spareleaze Hill, Loughton, was at the forefront of a local campaign when a developer put forward plans to build a four-storey house in the grounds of Beechlands care home, in nearby Alderton Hill last year.

He said: “These statistics don't surprise me. This is such a desirable area. The way property prices are running, if you have a garden and your property is worth a lot of money you can sell it off for a lot more.

“A back garden isn't a building site. When you build it affects the whole area- the more houses the more people. It's not nice to grab every bit of Green Belt there is.”

Alan Quaife, 79, of Carroll Hill, Loughton, organised a campaign last year when a neighbour set out plans to demolish his house and replace it with a block of eight flats.

He said: “I would agree with the statistics. The house next door to me was pulled down and two houses are going on it. They're long, narrow houses and in order to get them in they've had to build right down the garden and that impinges on my view. It's wrong.”

The coalition Government has recently changed the law to take back gardens out of the brownfield category- a move welcomed by many residents.

Mr Quaife said: “I agree infilling is totally wrong. People sell their plots because they're sitting on a piece of land which is worth an enormous amount. I know people need somewhere to live but it's a shame that areas have completely lost their character with infilling.”