brentwood.gov.uk

Brentwood Borough Council must provide 7800 houses a third of which have been allocated to Dunton Hills and the rest scattered over the borough. Blackmore has been allocated 70 which represents 60% of land released in villages in what is described in the LDP as a 'borough of villages'. This is totally disproportionate. Brownfield sites have not been properly considered before the green belt and green field sites. The LDP has not shown that the 70 houses could not be built by increasing density on the more urban sites. Denton Village could easily absorb this amount for example. In addition there are other sites within the Blackmore boundaries that have been submitted to Brentwood Planning for development as well as building by Epping Council on our borders. All of which will be using our services and infrastructure adding to further congestion in an already busy village.
There is a large, illegal, travellers site in Chelmsford road that additionally impacts all the roads, parking, infrastructure, school, doctor's surgery, services etc.
No Housing Needs Survey has been made, except by Blackmore Village Heritage Association, to ascertain local needs and to show why Blackmore has been included.
The infrastructure cannot support this additional build which could mean upwards of 200 people, 140 cars, 250 car journeys. The doctors' surgery is overwhelmed. It is not possible to get an appointment for weeks. At time of writing this was until at least the end of April. The local primary school, that is listed as an asset in the plan, is oversubscribed with a waiting list. Traffic and parking is already a problem and will only get worse as planning departments in Brentwood and Epping continue to approve building plans Why is Blackmore, population 829, in Settlement Category 3 along with Doddinghurst, population 2,550, rather than Settlement Category 4?
The definition of Category 4 is 'Remote and small rural villages and hamlets, with poor public transport, limited shops, jobs and community facilities; some of these settlements rely on nearby settlements for services' which is more pertinent to the village of Blackmore.
A clear plan needs to be implemented for Blackmore and the other villages in the north of the Borough
* There doesn't appear to have been much, if any, consultation with Epping & Chelmsford Borough Councils. 30 properties have been built in Fingrith Hall Lane which will impact the village and the inhabitants will further impact the local services, schools, doctors etc
* Blackmore is a remote village with scarce services, public transport, doctors' appointments are already at a premium and there is a long waiting list for the local primary school.
* More sustainable locations with better infrastructure, more schools, & surgeries, etc etc such as the urban areas of Brentwood are available.
*Brownfield sites have not been properly considered before the green belt and green field sites and promoting the land off Red Rose Lane.
* The LDP has not shown that the 70 houses could not be built by increasing density on the more urban sites. Denton Village could easily absorb this amount for example.
* No Housing Needs Survey has been made, except by Blackmore Village Heritage Association, to ascertain local needs and to show why Blackmore has been included in the LDP.
* Red Rose Lane is a narrow road with drainage ditches either side. Two cars cannot pass without one pulling over. This is the only access from the proposed site so is totally unsuitable for the amount of additional traffic which would be upwards of 150 cars. Phil Drane has quoted that 'Red Rose Lane is an inappropriate access road'
* Essex CC and Councillor Lesley Wagland agrees with the road and infrastructure issues.
* Building 70 plus houses there would not create any jobs for the area.
* Both sites are frequently subject to flooding. Building on these fields would also increase the flood risk elsewhere in the village in particular by the village pond which is currently a flood hazard. A cursory look at the Essex CC web site https://flood.essex.gov.uk/know-your-flood
risk/check-if-you-re-at-risk-of-flooding/ would clearly show the high risk of flooding
Blackmore is under.
* Stondon Massey would welcome additional housing to ensure viability of their village and there are sufficient brownfield sites to accommodate such growth.