A CAMPAIGN to prevent suburban gardens being swallowed up for housing development has received a major boost after a Midland MP won the chance to introduce new legislation.

Caroline Spelman (Con, Meriden) came third in a ballot of MPs for the opportunity to present a Private Member's Bill.

The ballot is one of the few opportunities for any MP who is not a member of the Government to propose legislation with a realistic chance of success.

Mrs Spelman is to draw up proposed laws preventing so-called "garden grabbing" by giving councils the power to block developments.

It follows claims that leafy areas such as Solihull, Sutton Coldfield and Lichfield are being targeted by developers.

Businesses buy and demolish large properties to build in the gardens, often resulting in blocks of flats where there used to be a family home.

Solihull Council voted last month to ask the Government for the ability to reject such schemes.

Ms Spelman, the Tory spokeswoman on local government, said: "There is no infrastructure to support these developments."
