brentwood.gov.uk

I just wanted to send you a brief note to say that I agree with your decision to keep the greenbelt land to the north of Hatch Road off your primary development list. There is a considerable amount of wildlife that would be affected which would include breeding buzzards, deer, bats, newts and fieldfares. The boundaries to development are not strong. The area is criss-crossed with footpaths, but if land designated as greenbelt can be developed then a footpath won't stop further development. It would be shame also to develop land before an archaeological study of the pilgrims places of rest could be undertaken given it's Christian heritage. Development would vastly change the character of the site. The land is tended, but it is countryside, not urban, mixed use or industrial. Adding houses will reduce the countryside. This is a fundamental change. Lastly, there is the question of amenity. Sandpit Lane is not suitable as a major thoroughfare, although it is being used as such. The traffic lights at Wigley Bush Lane can take 10 minutes to get through, however this is often preferable to trying to get through Brentwood. The only directions able to cope with more traffic at busier times (i.e. at times convenient to peoples way of life) from Pilgrim's Hatch is Ongar or Doddinghurst. Neither of those though have amenities to spare. All in then, I applaud your decision not to develop on the land to the north of Hatch Road.