On 30th July UDC Councillors met in an Extraordinary Meeting and voted by 24 votes to 12 to approve the draft Uttlesford Local Plan document (aka Reg 19) in being published for a final eight weeks public consultation from 8th August to 3rd October 2024. After this consultation, final amendments will be made before submission to the government/ Planning Inspectorate examination. All being well the plan will be adopted by mid-2026. Thereafter, it is subject to reviews every five years until 2041 when a new plan will be formulated.
After two failed local plans and another that was withdrawn before examination this plan had to succeed in being taken further forward and adopted. Failure would result in a risk of government taking over the Local Plan process.
The current Local Plan was agreed in 2005 and by the time the new plan is agreed the current plan will be 22 years old making it one of the oldest plans in the country, in turn creating unceasing speculative development by property developers in unsuitable areas. Hence why 1,200 houses east of Highwood Quarry was approved.
The good news is Easton Park being identified as a country park for the District (page 101, para 6.70) providing welcome green space to counter the high level of house building in the Dunmow area. However, the park does not yet exist and if support to create it is lacking then the risk of 10,000 houses returns in five years, given the government’s stated goal to build 1.5m houses before the next election.
The vote was not without controversy with Takeley badly affected in having to take a large amount additional housing and commercial units. 77% of housing and development growth is taking place in the south of the District.
You may have noticed the work to create a path and install a kerb in Manor Road abutting the playing field has been suspended. This is because Gigaclear network tubes were discovered in places that were not on official plans. Gigaclear have made a site visit and will work with LEPC to rectify the matter themselves, but, as a result, all plans received from utility service providers are being re-examined to verify the location and path of utility assets. Once agreed with providers LEPC will keep this information for future council administrations. Work will recommence but unfortunately not until after the school summer holidays.
