brentwood.gov.uk

Summary.

Objection to the site at Land South of Redrose Lane, Blackmore (Ref:076). This land should not be released from the Green Belt as the addition of c.a. 40 residential units would:
* Have a detrimental visual impact
* Increase flood risks
* Overwhelm infrastructure
* Ruin the character of the village
* Destroy the green and blue space enjoyed by all
* Obliterate wildlife habitats
* Massively increase pollution from car based commuting
* Heavily oversubscribe existing schools/GP's
* Site overlooks existing residential units and is not well screened
* Out of proportion to the existing settlement
* Create dangerous traffic conditions in such close proximity to the school


- Site 076 is not well screened. There is a lack of screening to the south side where existing houses back onto the site. The low brambles along some of the south of the site (adjacent to Orchard Piece) are not continuous and do not provide any privacy from the site. There are a number of houses and gardens in Orchard Piece which would be directly overlooked by the proposed housing estate, some would be overlooked on four sides if the development were to take place.
- Building on site 076 would have a substantial negative visual impact to the integrity of the village itself.
- Living adjacent to protected Green Belt Land was a very considered choice made when we purchased our house this year. Living in a property surrounded by other houses on all sides was not. Our right to enjoy green and blue space, and the sense of wellbeing produced by seeing agricultural land would be gone if this development goes ahead.
- This area of green belt is a flood risk, and if built on the village would not have the soil protection it currently does has from flooding.
- Extending the existing settlement with an estate development would ruin the character of this small village as it would overwhelm it. Its scale is out of proportion to the existing settlement.
- Building c.a. 40 houses would result in an overload of the already oversubscribed schools, health services, and roads.
- It should be considered that the knock on effect of increasing the village by c.a. 28% for site 076 and 077 would be that our local schools, GP buildings and recreation spaces would have to be increased in size to accommodate for the increased number of adults and children, potentially encroaching further on greenbelt land in the local area.
- Developing this site would destroy an area of open countryside which can no longer be visually enjoyed by the village as green and blue space, such that the special character of a small countryside village is destroyed.
- The roads around the village are enjoyed by walkers and cyclists alike so to build a larger housing development would reduce their enjoyment of the area as much as the residents who would be affected.
- The environmental impact of building on this site includes loss of habitat for wildlife, particularly for the small insects that live in wild grassy areas which are dwindling in the UK.
- The loss of this wildlife habitat is detrimental to the being of mankind.
- The economic future for the residents of the village does not depend on the building of these homes. The number of local residents in Blackmore Village who will be negatively impacted is much larger than local businesses which may benefit.
- This development would not lead to substantial economic growth in the village due to the village being a very small economic hub.
- Access to the site will cause numerous problems to the village and there would be no way of stopping larger and heavy vehicles attempting to access the site via unsuitable roads.
For example:
(A) Fingrith Hall Lane is unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles which runs between site 076 and 077, and although there is signage - there is no guarantee heavy goods vehicles would take note.
(B) Access via The Green over the small single lane bridge between the duck ponds could risk damage from repeated heavy goods vehicle use.

- This site is in extremely close proximity to Blackmore Primary School and increasing traffic, including large vehicles, delivery trucks, vans, lorries and contractors would be potentially endangering lives.
- A proportion of these vehicles would be using Nine Ashes Road every day to access the site which is where Blackmore Primary School is located, creating higher levels of pollution and noise on top of the traffic problems and dangers.
- Access to a car is essential, the increased number of homes would result in c.a.1000 additional car journeys per working day if the houses were to be built on sites 076 and 077.
- This development would increase car based commuting and pollution.
- There are also question marks over the future of the public transport servicing the village, which risks a higher number of car based journeys and pollution.
- The lanes servicing the village are not appropriate for traffic exceeding the existing levels - they are country lanes, often narrow and already in a state of disrepair.
- The infrastructure in this area is already at capacity and would not cope with the increased population