Beautiful Chigwell must preserve it's green identity in the face of increasing developments.
Chigwell is a place that is known for its natural beauty and local residents are proud of it. The Chigwell of Dickensian times was considered the 'greatest place in the world' by the famous author.
Residents who have lived here for some time have seen changes to the surroundings and an increase in homes and people that has often left them bewildered, but many of us would not be here was it not for those changes.
A balance has to be struck and we must learn from mistakes of the past, with a view to how new developments affect our local ecology and socio-economic factors.
Local people have been in furore over a number of planning applications regarding Hainault Hall, windows and a swimming pool, but I note that the Parish Council have not objected to the applications suffice to say:
Which seems like a very sensible approach. I am very keen on preserving history and have always had a passion for learning about the past of the area I live in. But my expertise and knowledge on the architectural intricacies of any period are limited. The Council have a Listed Building Officer and their approval for me would always be the deciding factor. Any listed building alteration or repair would have to automatically go through this route, so CRRA input would simply be to ensure the Parish Council followed this simple procedure in future. CRRA have not raised any objections because we are not listed building experts and have left the decision up to the Listed Building Officer.
The swimming pool added to the rear of the Hainault House building is aloof from the main construction and does not impact on the historical building itself. I am inclined to agree with councillors who filed NO OBJECTION without any specific clause.
I note that another building project that was mentioned in our whatsapp group was two dwellings at Maypole Drive for which again NO OBJECTION was specified. However a caveat requiring a more developed site plan reassures me that our Parish councillors got the decision right and were detailed in their decision making.
It should be noted Chigwell Parish Council only provide a recommendation for planning applications submitted, the final decision will be made by Epping Forest District Council. You can read a list of all Chigwell planning decisions (here)
Just so local residents are aware several objections were including a conversion of a corner cottage on Vicarage Lane to a mixed-use residential/commercial building that could act as venue for wedding receptions or other events. This application received a strong objection due to its inappropriate scale of design for the area and potential to increase traffic. This seems like a favourable decision and clarifies that decisions made by our local parish councillors are in the main sensible.
Now we come to a planning proposal that has worried many local people. A proposal to develop The Willows a site of around 1.9 hectares, to create between 50 - 70 new dwellings. The size and the scale of such a project is worrying not to mention the loss of Greenbelt land that we have all come to cherish and love. Quite simply put the community benefit would be superseded by the additional population burden.
The National Planning Framework allows for development of Greenbelt land under special circumstances and the developer in his application has included some Section 106 items that seem appealing at first sight. This includes a doctors surgery, a community centre with gym and a payment towards running cost for the yellow bus route for one year. All items that would benefit our community especially considering we do not have a doctors surgery in Chigwell Row and the other surgeries near us are full to capacity.
However, the sheer size and scale of the project and the loss of greenbelt land is a hard and impossible pill to swallow.
The land was not featured in the Epping Forest District Council's, Local Plan that is going through the process of being ratified. I also believe at the meeting a point was raised that the land there did not meet the approval of the consultants who devised the local plan.
Like all residents I would disprove of the planning proposal. As a group CRRA does not yet have to make a decision on this proposal as a planning application has not been submitted.
In discussions on whatsapp the vast majority of local people objected to the application and CRRA would follow their advice. However, one resident mentioned that development would introduce employment to the area and the Section 106 element would be advantageous to the area.
There was a rather unfortunate comment by one local who felt that a large redevelopment of the former Maypole Pub site would be advantageous. But from the many conversations I have had with local people their is a wealth of memories invested in the building. Moreover, its heritage value as a place frequented by author Charles Dickens who also used a combination of the Kings Head Inn and Maypole Pub to form the characterised Maypole Inn (probably referencing the Kings Head Inn), in his book Barnaby Rudge. Furthermore, the use of the car park for an 1800's travel horse drawn carriage long bus service is of historical note, made more relevant in our current times by many who remember later use of the car park by London Transport buses until 1994.
Besides if you look at the leaded windows of the pub which were displayed yesterday, after the ugly wooden boards that have covered this feature of the iconic building, were removed. You will note with some satisfaction that they are still intact and as radiant as ever. I had applied for Historic England to seek listed building status of the Maypole Pub which was rejected, as they felt the historic significance through the unproven link to Dickens was not strong enough. I have since provided evidence of the horse-drawn coach service and London Transport Bus use, a picture taken from Barnaby Rudge mentioning Chigwell Row and an image of the leaded windows. I can think of no other location in Chigwell Row that has such distinctive windows - barring All Saint's Church of course. The leaded windows seem to have piqued Historic England's interest along with the other data and I hope this will change their focus. Even if these details make credible a listing of the building, we may still have to await a planning application submission, before action is taken.
Knocking down such an iconic building is not necessary, new residential units could be created within the confines of the existing building, which could be brought to life with a new lick of paint and some wood treatment.
The fact remains that our 3-tiered local authority must meet government guidelines for providing affordable housing. Any development in our community must also meet the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (click here).
Personally (my view not CRRA) if it meant we could save and beautify the Maypole Pub which has a definite local heritage, I would prefer a smaller construction project on the Willows, as long as there was any proven previous footprint (no new land to be developed) and any construction followed the boundary of that footprint. But I would expect there to be a significant community gift via Section 106 and for affordable housing requirements to be met. Geographical sharing of the burden of urban sprawl due to additional housing requirements, is something that will be inevitable with time. This comment is not made because I live closer to the Maypole but from discussions with a number of people who cherish the Maypole Pub's history.
But for now the existing grand scale and design of the property is too large for approval and the effect on local biodiversity and the furore of our residents, means this initial proposal must be opposed.
What grates me is that our Parish Council did not pursue a Neighbourhood Plan, which would have given our immediate councillors the ability to work with our community, to ensure our desired planning protections are put in place. As a community we should challenge our existing parish councillors to revisit this faux-pas...
Preserve the Maypole Pub by signing our petition (click here)
Abused apostrophe in the heading. Tut, tut!
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