May 2024
In this article, Richard, policy volunteer at EFHT, briefly sets out the plans for North Weald, what we have achieved, and our ongoing concerns.
Members will be well aware of the challenges facing Epping Forest. Large-scale housing developments, unsympathetic redevelopment of existing properties adjacent to Forest land and commercial proposals will further damage sensitive Forest habitats through increased footfall, disturbance and air pollution.
Such developments are spread across the local authorities but one area which will be affected is North Weald Bassett to the east of the Forest.
The development sites are detailed in the Epping Forest District Council’s (EFDC) Local Plan and shown on the map. They include commercial expansion of the Airfield site, where the Council refuse services will be moving and where Google has recently purchased land, and large-scale residential developments which include a minimum of 1,050 new homes and retail, community and recreational facilities.
North Weald Bassett Strategic Master Plan Framework (SMF)
In April 2024, EFDC agreed the North Weald Bassett Strategic Masterplan Framework (SMF) which covers these residential developments. The purpose of the SMF is to set out both the Council’s objectives for the site and the related design and other principles which will be used to inform the more detailed planning applications.
The Trust commented on the draft SMF back in December 2023, stating that the protection of the Forest needed to be given greater prominence, particularly traffic volumes where we are concerned that the impacts are understated.
While EFDC commented that many of our concerns were already covered, or would be in later applications, we achieved a small but important change. EFDC has now added a reference to its policy on the need to protect the Forest[1]. This will help ensure that the impact on the Forest will be considered when detailed planning applications are being prepared and decided.
Our on-going concerns
Our concerns remain, however, that the protection of the Forest can be overlooked or not given sufficient attention as proposals go through the various stages of the planning process. For example, an outline application for the land south of Vicarage Road (the NWB.R3 site on the map) was submitted before the SMF had been agreed and the developers and Government bodies such as Natural England and Historic England are in discussion about how natural and historic assets can be protected.
While the Trust recognizes the need for more housing and employment our position is that this should not damage the Forest. We will continue to monitor and respond to planning applications in North Weald and elsewhere to try to ensure that the Forest is given the protection it needs.
Notes
- [1] https://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/EFD-Local-Plan-2011-2033-Part-One.pdf “Policy DM2 Epping Forest SAC and the Lee Valley SPA” (page 86)
- Image: Exact from EFDC adopted Local Plan