Green envy

Life is not as simple as this, however, when it comes to householders selling up to property developers on the hunt for spare land.

Another old dictum says that each bit of green space, especially in our densely-packed cities, should be preserved for fear of turning the country into a concrete jungle. Clearly, the line has to be drawn somewhere, but the indications are that it is currently being marked in favour of the "garden grabbers".

This is particularly important in Yorkshire. Towns and cities here have seen a surge in property development over the last decade and it was only with the recession that some of the property firms behind it realised how seriously they had over-expanded.

In many parts of this region, upmarket blocks of flats were built in haste and now stand only partially filled and with little prospect of attracting more people unless the price of living there is slashed.

Where a development has proved successful initially, the jury is still

out on whether it has been for the good of the town or city. The spread of the urban sprawl has meant more pressure on the roads and on local public services, such as schools and hospitals.

After enduring a dire recession, new investment in Yorkshire will make a real difference to the prospects of recovery.

This should not be at the price of sacrificing what is left of its green and pleasant land. There are enough old and empty properties in Yorkshire which can be redeveloped without the need to carve up its gardens.