Loss of green space for the purposes of makeshift homes for the homeless simply makes no sense?

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An eyesore of a development has ruined the aesthetics and salubrity of  residents in Hainault and will, no doubt, have long term impacts on our community. The development was approved despite being out-of-synch with other local design.

Residents of Manford way and Brockett Way held several protests and campaigns attempting to thwart the development of Homeless units in Brocket Way Park and neighbouring Woodman Road.

Despite a petition with over 1500 the plans went ahead on Woodman though the original design of 90 homes was reduced to 60. The prefabricated temporary housing units are now near completion and a site is still being located for the other 30 homes.  Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the Chigwell Row Residents Association, said:

"The buildings only have a 10-year shelf-life - what happens to these prefabricated temporary homes after this?

Locals claim Redbridge Council only alerted 20 households about the consultation regarding the development, but the council disputes this saying an initial letter was delivered to 342 properties around the two proposed sites.

The development on a greenfield site has substantial reduced a local park. The size of the project means the increase in population will create a major burden on local infrastructure.  Our green spaces are essential in the fight against obesity and during the COVID-19 pandemic have been one of the few reliefs.

Redbridge Council has stated the properties are ready to be inhabited, despite no assessment in place for need of a Fire Warden.

But this does affect our community in Chigwell too.  Many of us share the same doctors and dentist practices in an area where practices are few and far between.  The increase in population will increase this burden and other infrastructure such as transport and school places. Now more than ever our Parish Councillors must look towards increasing much needed community provision in their assessment of each large-scale planning application.

As a community we have to be more alert to the change being brought to Chigwell Row, as each new development will bring a whole series of new demands.  Without a doubt we will need to keep a watch on any future plans for Limes Farm and The Maypole, both on a list of preferred site on Epping Forest DC's Local Plan.  Late campaigns generally fail so our community will have to stay alert.

In recent years Redbridge Council have had an alarming propensity towards approving larger developments on the borders of their borough.  CRRA believes this is with the intent of reducing their responsibility to provide infrastructure and amenities.  It would seem that their purpose is to place the burden on neighbouring local authorities such as Epping Forest and Essex.  West Hatch is still the geographical catchment school for Redbridge residents living in Repton Park and Tomswood Hill. Despite many parents in Chigwell Row having failed to gain a school placement for their child.

You can read more about the 11 sites selected for development with a total of up to 370 new homes in Chigwell, under the draft local plan set by Epping Forest DC (here).

Construction vehicles have left a large trail of mud where grass used to be.