A change of landowner but the same ultimate goal
Ropemakers - the BP Pension Fund - has recently (in April 2013) sold all its interests north of Harlow to Places for People - "one of the largest property management, development and regeneration companies in the UK".  Since no approval for housing development has been given (which was how Ropemakers anticipated they would make money from their long-term investment) then we might assume they have concluded that the chances of being given approval are slim and they should get out while they have the chance.  We'd like to think that STOP Harlow North has played a significant part over the past 10 years in helping them reach that decision!  However there can be no doubting the intentions of the new landowners to achieve the same ultimate goal - to build at least 10,000 houses in this unspoilt rural corner of East Herts, scattered with historic villages and hamlets.  So the STOP Harlow North campaign goes on; 2013 will see continuing work by East Herts Council on their new District Plan, including their assessment of the need for new housing and the preferred locations of that new housing.  The focus of our campaign will, then, be on influencing that work by providing a quality and quantity of arguments that counter these unnecessary, unsustainable and undemocratic proposals.