Object

Preferred Site Allocations 2018

Representation ID: 19559

Received: 12/03/2018

Respondent: Ms Linda Cearns

Representation Summary:

It appears that the understandable wish to avoid government intervention in the LDP has led to a seemingly sudden review of Greenbelt land and the requisitioning of sites not formerly considered suitable for development.

Full text:

The sites specified are in the Parish of Blackmore, Hook End and Wyatts Green and are all in long-established Green Belt zones. These latest proposals are contrary to the intention of Greenbelt legislation to permanently provide and protect open space and do not appear to meet the requirements of exceptional need.

Even if it will be necessary to withdraw some Green Belt designation to meet the Borough's housing requirements, the proposed building of 116 dwellings in this parish is disproportionately high in comparison with the majority of other comparable rural parishes/villages in the Borough. (It is also concerning to note in supporting documents to the LDP that other large areas of Green Belt in the parish have been identified as alternative building sites.)

In Blackmore alone, the proposed building of 96 dwellings represents a 28.6% increase in the number of homes in the village. It should be noted that building developments planned by Epping Forest District Council in locations just outside the village boundaries e.g., at the Norton Heath Equestrian Centre, will also have a considerable impact on the parish and its infrastructure and should be taken into account.

There is very real concern regarding the provision of essential utilities, transport, schools and medical facilities to cope with this additional housing. In particular, the road infrastructure in and around the parish, which already suffers from dangerously wide heavy goods vehicles travelling on its narrow roads, is likely to be inadequate to cope with the increased levels of traffic.

It appears that the understandable wish to avoid government intervention in the LDP has led to a seemingly sudden review of Greenbelt land and the requisitioning of sites not formerly considered suitable for development. For the reasons stated above, I object to the proposals relating to the Site Allocations in this parish and trust they will be reconsidered.