Object

Addendum of Focussed Changes to the Pre-Submission Local Plan (Regulation 19)

Representation ID: 28029

Received: 26/11/2019

Respondent: Mrs Janis Smith

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Representation Summary:

Greenfield/Green Belt land in a remote village location with inadequate infrastructure. The number of houses has been reduced by 10. For all the reasons stated in March 2019, this site should be withdrawn completely from the LDP. A reduction of 10 houses does not change fundamental problems - in particular the infrastructure and services of the historically significant Blackmore Village will not support this scale of development. The sites proposed are developer led and still have not been properly assessed against local housing needs. These sites should be removed. At the time of the Addendum, a large number of developments (not included within the LDP) are in various stages of progress. These will further degrade the infrastructure of Blackmore. In particular, there has been inadequate consultation and strategic planning between Brentwood and Epping Forest Councils, with EFDC considering/consenting to; 30 houses are currently under construction in Fingrith Hall Lane (1km from the Village) An additional 5 houses are going through planning in Fingrith Hall Lane There are other EFDC 'infill sites' in Nine Ashes (1km away) Within metres of the village there will be at least 10 large dwellings at Ashlings Farm (the entrance development within Blackmore Parish). Also within Brentwood running through the normal planning process is: Redrose Farm (12 dwellings) on a Brownfield site (see R26 comments) 5 starter units in Spriggs Lane - Approved; PP being sought/appealed in Spriggs Lane/Chelmsford Road, (9 dwellings) and any number of other Greenfield sites/opportunistic PPs sought by farmers and land owners. R25 and R26 should be completely removed from the LDP, as the pre-existing and future normal infill (and windfall) in the Blackmore area means this Village has more than shouldered the appropriate housing burden, which will already overwhelm our very limited resources and wholly inadequate infrastructure.In the Addendum, sites R25 and R26 (c50 dwellings) equate to 49% of Green Belt release in 'larger villages'. Brentwood and Shenfield urban areas are identified as having the highest housing need, yet two sites (R18 and R19) have now had their allocations reduced. Blackmore remains classified as a 'Category 3' settlement ('larger village'). Our population numbers are much lower than many other villages in this category - which have sufficient infrastructure and resources that Blackmore lacks. Blackmore is Green Belt and there is no identified need for additional housing on the scale proposed. Taking all the above factors into account, I am opposed to building on the Green Belt, and that sites R25 and R26 should be withdrawn from the LDP. Absolutely. Have lived here all my life, and have seen the population
grow massively over the years, but all the infrastructure has remained the same. There are only 4 doctors and Dealtree Health Center now, where once there were I think 6. You cannot get an appointment on line for at least 6 weeks, so have to ring and be triaged if it is an emergency. The schools are all full to bursting.. The parking is very restricted.. The traffic is already dangerous, especially along Chelmsford Road, and heading towards Nine Ashes Road. The paths are not adequate enough to walk on and the thought of at least another 100 people, and possibly 50 cars, minium on top of all the extra building that has been allowed, Spriggs Lanne, and Norton Heath, and again garden planning that has and is being allowed

Change suggested by respondent:

Remove R25 and R26 from the Plan.

Full text:

Q2 DATA PROTECTION: All representations and personal information that you provide will be used solely for the purpose of Local Plan Consultation including sharing your personal contact details with the Planning Inspectorate and Programme Officer. Declaration: I hereby consent to share this information as above.
Yes
Q3 DATA PROTECTION (CONT.):I also confirm that I consent to share my representations and personal contact details, as above, from the previous Regulation 19 Consultation in February/March 2019Declaration: I hereby consent to share this information as above.
Yes
Q4 FOCUSSED CHANGE 1: POLICY R01 - Dunton Hills Garden Village Strategic Allocation The allocation should be further increased and the delivery programme accelerated in order to remove policies R25 and R26 from the LDP
I agree - Dunton Hills can accommodate the houses planned for Blackmore
Q5 FOCUSSED CHANGE 2: POLICY R18 - Land off Crescent Drive, Shenfield. Brownfield. (Less than 1% of total responses, March 2019)Brownfield sites should be prioritised over Greenfield, and Green Belt should not be released at all unless all other alternatives have been used to fulfil the target housing allocations. The number of homes should be increased back to a minimum of 55 and R25 & R26 should be removed entirely.
I agree. I Still even think, that an extra minium of 55 houses in Crescent Drive, is
going to cause traffic grid lock, both in Crescent Drive, and entering into
the main road, leading to High Street, and from what I am witnessing
there are a lot of garden infills being built, and offices changed into
houses, which is going to cause massive over population in an already
over crowded Brentwood
Q6 FOCUSSED CHANGE 3: POLICY R19 - Land at Priests Lane, Shenfield.(11% of total responses, March 2019)Defined as: Greenfield Land within Brentwood urban area / Settlement boundary. This is a site surrounded by existing housing, on a main road, and next to a railway line. This site is more suitable for residential development than more remote locations (EG Policies R25 and R26) and therefore should be built on before remote locations.
I agree - we should prioritise building on sites with, or close to, existing infrastructure. Absolutely agree, but would add, that the traffic congestion in Priests
both morning and afternoon, is also gridlocked, due to drop off and pick
up at Brentwood School, and I have had to sit through as many as three
sets of traffic lights, to just get into Middleton Hall Road, where again
you could have to cue for a minium of 20 mins to reach school gates
Q7 FOCUSSED CHANGE 4 - PART APOLICY R25 - Land North of Woollard Way, Blackmore. Greenfield and Green Belt. (36% of total responses, March 2019)To be read in conjunction with Focussed Change 5 - All comments apply to both sites. Greenfield/Green Belt land in a remote village location with inadequate infrastructure. The number of houses has been reduced by 10. For all the reasons stated in March 2019, this site should be withdrawn completely from the LDP. A reduction of 10 houses does not change fundamental problems - in particular the infrastructure and services of the historically significant Blackmore Village will not support this scale of development.
I agree - the site should be removed from the LDP. Absolutely. Have lived here all my life, and have seen the population
grow massively over the years, but all the infrastructure has remained
the same. There are only 4 doctors and Dealtree Health Center now,
where once there were I think 6. You cannot get an appointment on line
for at least 6 weeks, so have to ring and be triaged if it is an emergency.
The schools are all full to bursting.. The parking is very restricted.. The
traffic is already dangerous, especially along Chelmsford Road, and
heading towards Nine Ashes Road. The paths are not adequate enough
to walk on and the thought of at least another 100 people, and possibly
50 cars, minium on top of all the extra building that has been allowed,
Spriggs Lanne, and Norton Heath, and again garden planning that has
and is being allowed
Q8 FOCUSSED CHANGE 4 - PART B. The sites proposed are developer led and still have not been properly assessed against local housing needs. These sites should be removed. I agree - these sites are developer led and should be removed from the LDP
Q9 FOCUSSED CHANGE 4 - PART C. At the time of the Addendum, a large number of developments (not included within the LDP) are in various stages of progress. These will further degrade the infrastructure of Blackmore. In particular, there has been inadequate consultation and strategic planning between Brentwood and Epping Forest Councils, with EFDC considering/consenting to; 30 houses are currently under construction in Fingrith Hall Lane (1km from the Village) An additional 5 houses are going through planning in Fingrith Hall Lane There are other EFDC 'infill sites' in Nine Ashes (1km away) Within metres of the village there will be at least 10 large dwellings at Ashlings Farm (the entrance development within Blackmore
Parish).
I agree - There has been inadequate consultation and sites R25 and R26 should be removed completely from the LDP
Q10 FOCUSSED CHANGE 4 - PART D Also within Brentwood running through the normal planning process is: Redrose Farm (12 dwellings) on a Brownfield site (see R26 comments) 5 starter units in Spriggs Lane - Approved; PP being sought/appealed in Spriggs Lane/Chelmsford Road, (9 dwellings) and any number of other Greenfield sites/opportunistic PPs sought by farmers and land owners. R25 and R26 should be completely removed from the LDP, as the pre-existing and future normal infill (and windfall) in the Blackmore area means this Village has more than shouldered the appropriate housing burden, which will already overwhelm our very limited resources and wholly inadequate infrastructure.
I agree - Sites R25 and R26 should be removed completely from the LDP
Q11 FOCUSSED CHANGE 5: PART APOLICY R26 - Land North of Orchard Piece, Blackmore. Greenfield and Green Belt. (37% of total responses, March 2019 - ie grand total 73% across R25 and R26)To be read in conjunction with Focussed Change 4 (above). All comments apply to both sites. Redrose Farm is a Brownfield redevelopment opportunity (opposite R26) for 12 homes, and it will deliver part of our own Village plan as opposed to digging up Green Belt land. It should therefore replace R26 in its entirety.
I agree - Green Belt land should not be built upon and Brownfield should be prioritised (eg Redrose Farm). No argument, absolutely agree
Q12 FOCUSSED CHANGE 5 - PART BR26 is also Greenfield/Green Belt, and development is undesirable in the context of better/alternative sites, both within the Village/Parish and the wider Brentwood Council area .A site that was in the LDP (from Jan 2015 - November 2018, when it was withdrawn) is Honeypot Lane (Ref was 022). Identified as 'Green Belt land - edge of Brentwood Urban Area' - an eminently better near town centre site surrounded by existing housing and would provide c200 units. It should be reinstated as this would allow R18, R19, R25 and R26 to be completely removed whilst not adding to the burden on R01
I agree - the Honeypot Lane site should be Reinstated
Q13 FOCUSSED CHANGE 5 -PART C SOUNDNESS and HOUSING NEED: In the Addendum, sites R25 and R26 (c50 dwellings) equate to 49% of Green Belt release in 'larger villages'. Brentwood and Shenfield urban areas are identified as having the highest housing need, yet two sites (R18 and R19) have now had their allocations reduced. Blackmore remains classified as a 'Category 3' settlement ('larger village'). Our population numbers are much lower than many other villages in this category - which have sufficient infrastructure and resources that Blackmore lacks. Blackmore is Green Belt and there is no identified need for additional housing on the scale proposed.
I agree - the allocation in Blackmore is disproportionate and unsound
Q14 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Please use this space for any further comments you wish to record.
Any future development allowed on this scale will totally destroy Blackmore as a Rural village, which is what it should essentially be, and allowed to stay as
without inflicting a new massive population and traffic, and putting a heavy burden on our already stretched infrastructures
Q15 CONCLUSION: Taking all the above factors into account, I am opposed to building on the Green Belt, and that sites R25 and R26 should be withdrawn from the LDP.
Strongly agree