brentwood.gov.uk

While instinctively I dislike the idea of the continual in-filling of green spaces, I recognise that the population of the world, the UK, and our area has grown tremendously in the past few years and so something has to be done to alleviate the pressure on housing.
If these areas must be developed, I would like to see serious efforts made to ensure that wildlife isn't adversely harmed too much, and that green areas, ponds, lakes and new trees are part of any changes made. The building work currently occurring at the Mountnessing roundabout by the A12 appears to be taking into account none of these factors - it seems that as many houses as possible are being squeezed into the available space.
My objection, therefore, relates to the amount of people you propose to house on the various sites. Even a relatively small housing development can benefit enormously from having some green space, perhaps some water, and a small copse of trees (perhaps ones that don't grow especially tall but still provide a sense of something not purely urban - like the ones alongside the southbound A12 slip-road at Ingatestone). The addition of paths and tracks would also be very welcome, and would provide people with access to these small pockets of greenery amidst the new housing.
I'd hope you'd look at what cities like New York and Seoul have done in turning disused railways and roads into green areas in which people can walk, run or cycle. Closer to home, the idea of a Green Corridor in Romford, which produced Rise Park and Rafaels Park, is a good example of how developments can have a positive impact on their surroundings. The point that such developments demonstrate is that even very small pockets of greenery, especially trees, can provide huge environmental, health and wellbeing benefit. I recognise that except for the Dunton Garden Village (where there is no excuse for not planning something fit for a better future), the developments on this plan are relatively small, but that doesn't mean that trees, bushes, paths, etc. can't be included. Just a small number of the right kind of plants, trees and bushes can have an enormously beneficial impact for wildlife and therefore the natural environment. As just one such idea, all the proposals that border the A12 should be lined by trees - this would make them more pleasant places to live and could end up increasing the number of trees in those areas.
If these planned developments end up the way the one in Mountnessing seems to be turning out - lots of houses squashed in to a small piece of land next to the busiest of roads -- I think the character of Brentwood and its surrounding villages will be lost. If, however, we take the opportunity to develop housing that balances the need for housing stock with the need to develop mindfully, we could end up with some attractive homes in new housing estates that would be good for wildlife and people.