brentwood.gov.uk

I strongly object to the proposed plan to build 1500 homes in West Horndon. This would treble the size of the village and change the character of the whole area. Why are we getting nearly 50% (43%) of the total number of the houses in the whole of the borough and why is the north of the borough not getting any??

As we have a station I believe this so called plus for housing here but if some of the new people are supposed to work or spend in the borough this is not possible from West Horndon Station. The railway station provides a commuter route into London but has limited additional capacity. The railway does not cater for the important local journeys, such as into Brentwood it simply runs straight in and out of the Borough.It does not support travel within the Borough. As there is not a good bus service into Brentwood this is not feasible. Even if new bus services were introduced this would impact further on the A128 where current levels of traffic are already close to breaking point and the A127 which is at a standstill most mornings towards London with heavy traffic going towards Southend so any extra vehicles from the 1500 houses could seriously risk a grid lock situation unless the A127 could be widened at a massive cost.

We are also being asked to comment on a major proposal having been presented with only an outline of what is proposed. It is not known therefore what benefits,if any, there might be for the village, or how the scheme might seek to mitigate against the many harmful impacts. There is no question that a development of the scale proposed will greatly increase the volume of traffic passing through the village. Overall the concern is that the people of the local community are most likely to suffer the harmful impacts of the development by way of increased traffic, overlooked back gardens, loss of rural character, without any discernible benefits. There is no explanation why West Horndon, as a small village should accept a wholly disproportionate number of new homes.

With the council's track record of not repairing roads or pavements. (Many of the pavements are very dangerous to walk on) or of the reduced amenities we have in the village we are very suspicious of getting any infrastructure that will maintain this level of housing. The sewerage is at capacity and many people get blocked drains and sewage etc flowing out over their gardens, drives etc. The preferred options document makes reference to an evidence base and infrastructure but is only able to say that an "Infrastructure Delivery Plan is forthcoming" How can we comment on this? National guidance state that Local Planning Authorities should assess the quality and capacity of infrastructure, water supply, wastewater and its treatment, energy (including heat), telecommunications, utilities, health, social care, education, and flood risk and its ability to meet forecast demands. This has not been done.

There us no evidence that the council has undertaken a flood risk. The village flooded in 1958, 1981 and most recently in 2012. I believe that the green belt earmarked for some of the housing acts as drainage to stop the village from flooding and if built on will increase the risk to the village and I believe Bulphan. A further flood alleviation scheme will increase risk to the south of the railway line and also will incur massive costs. There will be a knock on effect.

Whether new development can be proved to be sustainable is central to planning policy. Is this proposal sustainable - ensuring that better lives for ourselves doesn't mean worse lives in the future generations. I believe an essential requirement is that new home owners will not be over dependent on the car for journeys to work, school, shops, leisure activities and other services and amenities and I believe that in West Horndon they would be wholly reliant on their cars. West Horndon is a small village of less than 1900 people with a very limited range of amenities and facilities. It has few shops, no secondary school and is remote from the larger centres of Brentwood, Basildon and Upminster. The primary school is at full capacity. There is a three day wait to see a doctor and there is an infrequent bus service.If residents of the new development have no choice but to make most journeys by car the village quite clearly does not offer a sustainable location. It is possible that improvements could be made to the infrastructure and public transport and new local facilities provided but given the major scale of the proposed development such measures will not overcome the fact that West Horndon is to a genuinely sustainable location.

West Horndon is a small lower density settlement surrounded by open countryside. The village is characterised by larger plots backing onto open fields. A wide variety of wildlife can be seen in and around the village. Birds such as the Dunnock, Thrush Finch, Nightingale, Skylark, Kestrel, Buzzard, Tawny Owl and so on. Butterflies such as Small Blue, Red Admiral, Wall Brown. The water Vole Great Crested Newts and Pipestrelle Bats. The construction of 1500 homes on the edge of the village, and the consequence loss of a large expanse of open countryside, will destroy its open setting and rural character. No consideration has been given to wildlife and bio-diversity issues.

The proposals are not clear on the mix and proportion of land uses, with what appears to be a leaning towards an almost wholly residential scheme. There is no question that a development of the scale proposed will greatly increase the volume of traffic passing through the residential streets of the village. Overall the concern is that the people of the local community are most likely to suffer the harmful impacts of the development by way of increased traffic overlooks back gardens, loss of rural character, without any discernible benefits.

TRAVELLERS

I believe that it is also proposed to put travellers sites here too. As Travellers are not allowed to be put on flood plain land - Surely this rules West Horndon out. Also the financial effect this would have on our homes. I believe Basildon Council have reduced council tax on houses which were close to the Crays Hill Travellers sites but they have also lost £100,000 off their house prices. How is Brentwood Council going to respond to this please.

National guidance states that "Local Plans should develop robust and comprehensive policies that set out the quality of developments that would be expected of the are, responding to local character and being visually attractive" A local planning authority should also submit a plan for examination which is sound in respect of how it is prepared, whether proposals are properly justified, whether it can be delivered, and whether it is consistent with national policy. Given the level and extent of the concerns as set out above the plan clearly has fundamental shortcomings. It is not therefore sound or robust. The borough Council in consultation with the village is urged to carry out a study of West Horndon, focusing on infrastructure, services, amenities and public transport. Only after this is carried out can the plan be said to be responding to the needs of the local community.

Please rethink putting so many new homes in West Horndon and spoiling it for future generations. People who live in West Horndon have chosen a village location not a town.