Harlow Conservatives have raised significant reservations over the proposed modifications to the Epping Forest Local Plan, saying it undermines the future of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town (HGGT) and will congest Harlow’s roads and local services.
The council inherited the HGGT deal from the previous Labour administration. “The deal was not a good one,” explained Cllr Michael Hardware, cabinet member for strategic growth. “Little thought appears to have been given by Labour into the impact of these huge Epping developments on the existing town; to the traffic impacts or the effect on the existing infrastructure.
“This is why we opposed it when in opposition, re-affirmed this when we took control of the council last year.
“These inherited issues are being further exacerbated by Epping’s Local Plan to build even more homes on our borders. Their plan would also water down developers’ adherence to HGGT principles and standards, meaning poor quality homes being built, and wants to relax the requirements for developers to fund proper transport infrastructure for Harlow.”
The proposed modifications remove the requirement for developers to adhere to the HGGT Town Vision, which are included in both the Harlow and East Herts local plans.
Cllr Hardware continued: “This would mean poor quality development on Harlow’s borders with no adherence to the high-quality planning requirements we have put into Harlow planning policy as part of the Garden Town”.
The modifications also remove the housing targets from being clear and specific numbers for each site, changing them to a minimum instead. “This means there is potential for many more homes to be built on the sites south, east and west of Harlow,” added Cllr Hardware, “which we have always and continue to oppose”.
The third modification which is of concern is the developer contributions to the Sustainable Transport Corridors. These will provide public transport, cycling and walking routes direct to the town centre, mitigating the potential traffic impact and helping the town achieve its modal shift targets. The inspector wants to water down the requirement for developers to contribute. Cllr Hardware added: “These have to be fully funded by the developers as their developments will be creating the traffic. Why should we pay for the mitigation of more traffic on Harlow’s roads?”
Harlow Conservatives support the Garden Town and the growth of Harlow as it will bring significant benefits to the existing town and deliver Harlow homes for Harlow families. The growth, however, has to be in the right place and has to have the right mitigation in place, as well as steps to ensure proper integration of the new with the existing town.
“The Harlow Conservatives have always opposed development to the south and west of Harlow and Epping’s local plan proposes to allow poor quality development on our borders and that is not something we will ever agree to.” concluded Cllr Hardware.
