brentwood.gov.uk

I wish to respond to the Draft Plan on the proposed development at West Horndon as follows:

1. Proposed Size of Development
The Draft Option shows the preference of the Borough Council to be a major new development of 1500 dwellings added to the small village community of West Horndon. West Horndon is currently made up of 750 dwellings. The proposed development plans would triple the size of the village and change its character. Under the Borough Councils development plans for 2015 to 2030, the village would be asked to accept 43% of the development of the borough.

West Horndon village is mentioned in the 1086 Doomsday Book. The scale of the proposed development would inundate the existing village and would result in creating a new settlement that would threaten the current commercial and community centre of the village redundant or even create a divide in the village by creating a competing commercial area to the existing areas. The proposed plans bring no improvements for the village but are an appendage to the village.

The plan contains few details to support the allocation of a major development to a small village. For example a variety of alternative, modern methods of sustainable sewage treatment are suitable and environmentally beneficial which could be used in the less populated north of the borough, but these appear not to have been investigated. For example, near West Horndon, in St Mary's Lane is a brand new settlement of 10-12 houses with an independent waste water treatment which is commercially viable as all properties have been sold. This should be thoroughly investigated and replicated where possible in the areas discounted as alternative options 3 (semi dispersed growth) and 4 (dispersed growth) in section S1 Spatial Strategy.

National guidance states that Local Planning Authorities should assess the quality and capacity of infrastructure, water supply, waste water and its treatment, energy (including heat), telecommunications, utilities, waste, health, social care, education and flood risk, and its ability to meet forecast demands. This does not appear to have been implemented. For example the preferred options document states that an "Infrastructure Delivery Plan is forthcoming". It is essential that a plan is provided addressing the following issues that currently impact upon West Horndon and with the proposed development are implemented. Currently West Horndon is several degrees cooler than the surrounding town areas and in the long winter months heating is vital, there is a very poor broadband speed in the area, both the primary school and doctors surgery are at full capacity and there is a legal obligation for local authorities to provide school places and healthcare to everyone who requests the services. West Horndon is a flood risk area. The lack of evidence is not acceptable and full studies would need to be carried out and consulted upon before any agreement to develop takes place.

As residents of West Horndon we are being asked to comment on very significant proposal, but we are currently only being provided with a fragmented draft outline of what is proposed. The proposed developed do not highlight or state any developments for the village. There is no proposal of how the scheme might seek to mitigate against any harmful impacts.

The Borough Council are attempting to run a full consultation exercise on a draft proposal which needs further research and proper evidence. It would probably be open to judicial review if passed in its present form.

2. Consultation process
The government has said that, "too often power was exercised by people who were not directly affected by the decisions they were taking. This meant, understandably, that people often resented what they saw as decisions and plans being foisted on them".

I feel that this plan and the consultation process have been done with a top down approach and not bottom up, it's as if the borough council are not listening to the community. I do agree that any dwellings should be developed on the green belt land identified on the plan as 037. There is no natural stopping boundary in this proposal and I believe in time this would be extended to cover all the land up to the A127.

The national guidelines state that 'Local Plans should develop robust and comprehensive policies'. The plan presented to residents is still in its infancy and needs further development in areas such as: flooding, transport infrastructure, health and educational services, amenities, public transport. Currently the proposal is neither robust nor comprehensive and cannot be completely considered at this time. The borough council need to carry out an extensive study of West Horndon and the other sites mentioned above to ensure its plans are affordable. The proposed plans focus on the building of houses but they do not focus on the difficult task of enhancing the community. It needs to be ensured and enforced that the developers who build the houses will not walk away leaving the problems and challenges created for the Borough Council and West Horndon residents to solve and pay for.

3. Metropolitan Green Belt
The National Planning Policy Framework states that the government attaches great importance to Green Belts and to build on them is in appropriate and harmful. The large plot of 037 is green belt and has no boundary and creep will eventually result in it being built on to the A127 boundary.

If building has to take place in West Horndon then is should be done on the brown belt areas. Suitable brown belt areas are the West Horndon Industrial Estate. There are also brown belt areas at Hutton Industrial, Waits Way industrial Estate and the site formerly housing Elliott's night club. Timmerman's nursery on the 127 was formerly green belt land and if it were to be purchased would be a site suitable for dwellings. Ingatestone have a garden centre which could be developed into residential dwellings. As previously stated there are currently sites of 10-12 newly built houses which have sold successfully and have independent sewage system. This could be replicated across the north of the borough. I do not wish to see one dwelling built on green belt land. However IF green belt land in West Horndon has be built upon then perhaps extending the town along Station Road, and extending the park behind the dwellings and opening an entrance onto Station Road, could be an option as a boundary is created. This would increase the lighting along Station Road and along with newly developed suitably lit pathways towards the park creating safe areas for jogging and walking for all age groups, which the village is currently missing. This could provide an exceptional benefit to all members of the community.

4. Cohesion with local amenities
The last census shows that West Horndon contains 750 dwellings, with around 1900 people. The proposal is for an additional 1500 dwellings of yet undetermined density. This is a major proposal which will have a momentous impact on the current residents and the proposed new residents. For example the village a limited range of shops (two corner shops, fireplace shops, a hairdressers and beauty treatment shops, one or two small cafes). The corner shops currently closes at 8pm latest with the other shops closing by 5pm. The ATM charges to withdraw money. The majority of events held in the village hall run during the day. There is no secondary school in West Horndon and there are limited unreliable bus runs to the local secondary schools. The currently public bus service is limited and also unreliable. The commuter trains to and from Fenchurch Street Station are already at full capacity and Network Rail have no plans to upgrade the station, the train frequency, the ancient cement foot bridge, the very dangerous pedestrian entrance (it has no footpath, frequently floods, and has low hanging greenery in the way of pedestrians). The availability of the doctor surgery is over stretched, the surgery does not open before 9am or after 5pm, and it closes for 2 hours at lunch! It is very difficult to get an appointment at the surgery even more so for those who work 9 to 5 out of the local area.
West Horndon primary school is at full capacity and there are limited activities for the younger population to do after school. Unlike the rail link between Shenfield and Ingatestone, the rail at West Horndon only leads out of the borough. A more reliable and affordable bus link to Brentwood is essential if the borough wishes to help ensure money is contained within the borough. If the industrial estate located at West Horndon is to be moved to the M25 site then a reliable and affordable link between the West Horndon and the new industrial estate is essential as many residents that currently work there do not need to travel as such. Shenfield is soon to be a Cross rail station (in line with the current 2015-2030 proposal) and despite being advertised as 'end of the crossrail line' there is in fact one stop to Liverpool Street and therefore makes access to Heathrow and London extremely quick! Travel between West Horndon, Billericay and Shenfield is through busy with winding country lanes that have problems throughout the winter season.

The creation of additional dwellings will need the village to have a local shop that opens later than 8pm; a free to use ATM; more additional money and resources to enable the village hall to run classes and events after the standard 9 to 5; an upgraded transport service with frequent and reliable journeys to Brentwood; the doctors surgery is currently in need of greater resources to enable it to open for longer hours and Saturdays.

It is necessary for a much more thought to be given to the proposed retail development on the brownfield site so that it enhances rather than competes or takes away from the village centre and heart.

5. Impact on the countryside and character of the village
The village is a small low density settlement and is surrounded all by open countryside. Plot 037 has been farmed for years for wheat, oil seed rape, and peas. Construction of 1,000 dwellings that green belt farmed land will reduce food available to the UK, less land for wildlife and loss of ancient hedgerows and borders. It will also destroy the open setting and rural character of the village.

6. Impact on the residents
If any dwellings are to be built on West Horndon Brown Field Sites the residents should really have a say in the mix, proportion and density of the dwellings proposed. The draft plan and road shows did not indicate what is proposed. We would like low density development. The proposed location of new shops and 'new village hall' is close to existing dwellings and noise of large lorries backing up will travel. Timings of deliveries will need to be limited and agreed. I disagree with a new village hall as proposed by the developers, two are not needed and it will give the village two centres, thus polarising it.

The volume of traffic will increase through the village including additional trucks supply to the shops and removal of the waste. Back gardens currently not over looked will be intruded and the village will lose its rural character. Development against existing housing should be at a low level. Development needs to be agreed by the residents.

7. Impact on the road and junctions in the borough
The major roads of 127 and 128 are already unable to cope with the morning and evening flows of traffic. To create an additional lane and make the dual carriage ways three lanes (effectively making them motorways) would be extremely costly and involve removing several homes. The Station Road 128 Junction would require extensive redevelopment to cope with the higher volumes of traffic. The bridge over the railway station is an s bend and narrow, which would need to be widened and become a modern 'carbuncle' on the side of the village.

The junction at the station, the current industrial estate is a dangerous blind spot. Traffic coming over the bridge cannot see traffic exiting the station nor from the estate. Traffic from the station exit is unable to see traffic coming over the bridge. Pedestrian do not have a crossing across station road and need to run the width of two lanes and two bus stops - a very wide stretch of road between the proposed site and the station. If dwelling are built on the industrial estate the crossing to the railway station and bus station (for children returning from secondary school) will be extremely dangerous. The proposed small roundabout proposed by the developers would not help to improve safety for pedestrians. It appears to be a lazy and cheap solution and needs proper investigation. The pedestrian entrance to the station is shared with the vehicles. There is no footpath available for pedestrians.

Existing junctions from 127 to the village are inadequate and vehicles need to slow down to 20mph and lower to safely go onto these roads, at the annoyance and indeed horror of other road users which, when able, can travel at 60mph.

There are no footpaths to the west of the west of the village along St Mary's Lane which lead to winding narrow roads.

8. Flood risk
The proposed plot of 037 is the flood plain for Thorndon Park. It does indeed flood and has done badly 1958, 1981 and 2012. An assessment of the drainage in the area would need to be carried out before any building is planned in West Horndon. The Environment Agency web site shows West Horndon and Bulphan as being at risk of flooding. The village is situated in a low lying area with the hills of Brentwood to its north. Flood alleviation in the area will have a knock on affect to land south of West Horndon.

9. Loss of current employment
The brownfield site proposed to be used is almost 17 hectares of employment land. It will be essential that existing businesses can be relocated to nearby sites efficiently, cheaply and with benefit to the businesses so that they are not lost to other boroughs in the area. This is to ensure that existing residents are able to continue working within the area, something which should be encouraged wherever possible.

I really do care for the village I have chosen to live in and welcome good, well-integrated, robustly investigated and sustainable development. In the years ahead I will not have to explain to others, and also live with long term problems which will be left by the developers, should the current plans be put into effect without a thorough consultation and assessment.