The Epping Society presented the petition to Epping Forest District Council on Tuesday, July 1, in protest against the Epping South development, a major housing site included in the district’s local plan.
“Epping is by no means exceptional.
“We are under pressure from both the previous and new governments to build more houses in Epping Forest.
“There is a national shortage and new housing is being built everywhere, but I also understand the local impact felt by local people when it is in our town or street.
“Councillors are legally bound to follow policy in law for planning applications but I can also assure residents that the sentiments within the petition will always be taken into account when scrutinising development proposals.”
The petition reflects growing concern among residents about the scale of new development in the area.
Epping South was included in the council’s local plan after consideration by a government-appointed inspector, and a masterplan for the site was approved by the council in March.
Cllr Williamson warned that no new development was not an option, adding: “The Government has made itself clear. Either councils work with developers or the government will take our local influence away and impose its own planning controls.”
Epping South is one of several large residential development sites in the Epping Forest local plan.
Cllr Williamson explained the final decision to include it was taken by the government-appointed inspector, the council had endorsed the masterplan in March and could not reopen issues settled at that stage.
“The Government will expect the new development to go ahead.”
Cllr Williamson added the council’s approach gives it the best opportunity to shape the quality of development and resist substandard schemes.
He added: “Masterplans are one of the council’s ways of trying to encourage better quality planning applications – to ensure the final developments are as good as they can be, for residents moving into new homes and existing residents who will become their new neighbours.”
And he warned that if the council did not co-operate, the government would definitely intervene, taking away planning controls and invoking a presumption to grant applications across the whole district.
He added: “It is an invidious position. As councillors, we want to please our residents, but we also have a responsibility to do what we believe to be in the best interests of our residents.
“Residents can therefore rest assured. So long as we follow the process, masterplans give councillors the best chance of fighting poor planning applications and holding developers to deliver to the highest standards we can achieve.”
