The rise in the number of vehicles and the shortage of parking spaces means millions of front gardens have been paved over to make room for cars.
Figures analysed by the RAC Foundation show around 80% of Britain’s 26 million dwellings were built with a front plot.
Almost a third of these plots have been turned into hardstanding. This means seven million front gardens now contain concrete and cars rather than flowers and grass, a total area roughly equivalent to 100 Hyde Parks or 72 Olympic Parks.
Houses built between 1919 and 1964 are most likely to have a front garden and hence it is these properties that are most likely to have seen the change.
The move to find extra parking space has resulted from the huge rise in car ownership. In 1950, there were two million cars. In 2011, there were 28.5 million.
Based on current rates of ownership, the rise in population alone is set to increase this figure to around 32 million cars in the next two decades.
Source: RAC Foundation
We should maybe do something to overcome this issue? I would like to create an organization to promote the benefits of having a green front garden and to give advice on how to couple plants with cars, especially in London. If you are interested in joining my action, please send me an email.
Posted by: Ludivine Baruton | Jul 25, 2012 at 01:32 PM