More than a quarter of all new homes in Shropshire have been built on back gardens in the last three years, official figures reveal today.

Just one in eight homes – 12 per cent – were crammed into residential plots in 1997, rising to 28 per cent by 2009 – an increase of 16 per cent. The data lays bare the increase in the number of properties being bought by developers in the county, excluding Telford & Wrekin, to reap a profit.

This is similar to the national picture which has seen the practice of “garden-grabbing” increase by 14 per cent in England, rising from 11 per cent to 25 per cent in the same period.

In the Telford & Wrekin area, one in five homes is now being built on previous residential land – up from two per cent to 20 per cent.

In June, the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition announced measures to stop the practice which has seen green suburbs turn grey.

Councils had struggled to stop the trend with gardens classified as “previously residential land” making them brownfield sites.

That designation is responsible for putting them in the same category as derelict factories and disused railway sidings.

But the planning rules were changed to stop gardens being seen as brownfield land, giving local authorities and campaigners greater powers to block building.

Communities Minister Greg Clark, who released the data, said the figures proved it was right for the Government to introduce new legislation to make it a more difficult practice.

“For years local people were powerless to do anything about the blight of garden grabbing as the character of their neighbourhoods was destroyed and their wishes ignored,” he said.

“We can see from these statistics that last year an even higher proportion of homes were built on previously residential land, which includes back gardens.

“Building on gardens robs communities of green breathing space, safe places for children to play and havens for urban wildlife.

“It was ridiculous that gardens were classified in the same group as derelict factories and disused railway sidings.

“Now we’ve changed the classification of garden land, councils and communities will no longer have their decisions constantly overruled, and will have the power to work with industry to shape future development that is appropriate for their area,” he added.

By London Reporter Sunita Patel