The Government's requirements for additional housing development must surely be matched to the development of the region’s economy. Indeed, the whole process of spatial planning in the region should be being driven by the Regional Economic Strategy (RES). The RES contains nothing to address the jobs requirement associated with this scale of house-building. The ability of the region and Harlow in particular to produce the necessary jobs is a matter of serious doubt.

When Sir Frederick Gibberd designed the masterplan for Harlow, he recognised that the Stort Valley provides a natural boundary, separating the urban area from the countryside and green belt beyond. He designed the Town to reflect this balance.  A journey along the A414 illustrates the point.  The BP proposal would ruin that careful planning at a stroke.

Has the right balance been struck between needs for housing in the East of England and desire to preserve the countryside.  We hope you support the view that the closer traditional countryside is to the metropolis, the more urgent the need to preserve it

This is the wrong place for a major development.  It is only seven miles from, and on the direct flight path into Stansted airport.  There is a limited supply of potable water from Graffham Water, 80miles away.  The Cambridge – Stansted – Harlow – London railway line already runs at full capacity, and there are no plans to expand the capacity of Harlow Town station.

In any considered search for sustainable development, this would not be the first choice. It has been rejected twice before through the democratic process it should be rejected again. <Return to top of page>

The area is separated from Harlow by a dual carriageway, a railway line, and the wide flood plain containing the River Stort, an area of Special Scientific Interest which forms the Essex / Hertfordshire county boundary.  Any development in this location will always be isolated from Harlow, casting extreme doubt on claims that it will somehow aid regeneration of current Harlow.  We support the need for regeneration of Harlow, but genuinely believe that an adjacent, huge new settlement would compete with the existing town for available funds, and exacerbate rather than resolve Harlow’s current disadvantage.

The Government's requirements for additional housing development must surely be matched to the development of the region’s economy. Indeed, the whole process of spatial planning in the region should be being driven by the Regional Economic Strategy (RES). I am sure you know that the RES contains nothing to address the jobs requirement associated with this scale of house-building. The ability of the region and Harlow in particular to produce the necessary jobs is a matter of serious doubt.

The capacity of the region's infrastructure - not only road, rail and other public transport networks, but also health services, education, and community facilities – to absorb this level of housing is also a serious concern. This region already has a significant infrastructure deficit. Before any decisions are made on major spatial issues, central Government must surely make more explicit and definite undertakings in respect of the funding necessary to improve infrastructure in the region, in order to enable any growth to occur in a sustainable way.

When Sir Frederick Gibberd designed the masterplan for Harlow, he recognised that the Stort Valley provides a natural boundary, separating the urban area from the countryside and green belt beyond. He designed the Town to reflect this balance.  A journey along the A414 illustrates the point.  The BP proposal would ruin that careful planning at a stroke.

The area in question is currently unspoiled, traditional mixed countryside, comprising high quality, arable farmland interspersed with pockets of ancient forest and parklands.  It envelopes two small, historic villages (Eastwick and Gilston)  The southern fringe of land (nearest Harlow) is designated Metropolitan Green Belt, and to the north, east, and west it borders other traditional Hertfordshire villages (Hunsdon, Widford, Much Hadham and High Wych).  The area has extensive natural flora and fauna and its proximity to the northern fringes of London – as well as to Harlow – ensures it is widely used for rambling, bird-watching and other recreation.  All of this will be destroyed if the proposals are allowed to proceed.

This is the wrong place for a major development.  It is only seven miles from, and on the direct flight path into Stansted airport.  There is a limited supply of potable water from Graffham Water, 80miles away.  The Cambridge – Stansted – Harlow – London railway line already runs at full capacity, and there are no plans to expand the capacity of Harlow Town station.

In any considered search for sustainable development, this would not be the first choice. <Return to top of page>

The great majority of the local population of this delightful unspoiled countryside are totally opposed to this proposal

Our MP, Mark Prisk, the leader of East Herts District council, Mike Carver, the ward district councillor, Deborah Clark (Executive member for Economic and Regional development) and many County councillors have voiced their opposition.

BP Pension Fund bought this agricultural land in the 1970’s and ever since has sought a planning allocation for housing.  Two earlier proposals have been rejected outright by the Hertfordshire Structure plan and SERPLAN.

Draft RPG14, following the Buchanans original study, recommended that there should be no building north of the Stort and west of the M11. It is unclear what has changed to make this patch of land appropriate for development.

In any considered search for sustainable development, this would not be the first choice. It has been rejected twice before through the democratic process it should be rejected again.

BP Pension Fund has invested heavily in employing agencies and individuals to lend support to their proposals.  Please do not be swayed by the gloss they have applied.

The Government's requirements for additional housing development must surely be matched to the development of the region’s economy. Indeed, the whole process of spatial planning in the region should be being driven by the Regional Economic Strategy (RES). I am sure you know that the RES contains nothing to address the jobs requirement associated with this scale of house-building. The ability of the region and Harlow in particular to produce the necessary jobs is a matter of serious doubt.

When Sir Frederick Gibberd designed the masterplan for Harlow, he recognised that the Stort Valley provides a natural boundary, separating the urban area from the countryside and green belt beyond. He designed the Town to reflect this balance.  A journey along the A414 illustrates the point.  The BP proposal would ruin that careful planning at a stroke. <Return to top of page>