Last roll of the dice

Written by Paul Donald and published in Epping Forest Guardian on Fri 9th Dec 2005

DRAWN-out proposals to develop the Grange Farm site, Chigwell, have been given a "final roll of the dice" with an additional year having been given for a scheme of 28 houses to win full planning permission.

The deadline has now been extended until April 30, 2007.

An area plans committee was told that refusing this latest application would cause a package of benefits previously negotiated to be lost and that the extension was the final roll of the dice.

Councillors were told that the current application deadline would not be met and were advised that refusing the application would cause further delays.

The major setback has been over the building of access and a roundabout on the A113, with disputes over the preservation of a hedge and sub-soil rights by neighbouring company Oaklands complicating progress.

Oaklands claims its consent is required to use a small part of the land opposite the Grange Farm entrance for the roundabout. It says the development impacts on its rights below the area. Sub-soil rights start at a depth of two spits, the equivalent of two spade depths.

At last week's meeting Tony Bohill, agent for applicant First National Finance Corporation Ltd, dismissed any sub-soil rights, adding: "We've battled for nearly ten years to see development on this site and the benefits for Chigwell which were agreed by residents. We've had freeloaders who have tried to cash in, but we've fought them off in the High Court. We now have a purchaser who is willing and able but requires time to formulate its proposal."

Chigwell councillor Gavin Stollar said: "We must now see if we can move forward. We don't lose anything by giving them another year, and it would be a shame to lose the work of the council at this stage, and as a Chigwell councillor I would say it's a waste of taxpayers' money to refuse."

Seeking to take advantage of the possibility to alter some of the previous conditions on the proposal, Chigwell councillor and district council leader John Knapman said: "I'm minded to seek some affordable housing if we can change any of the conditions.

"We're only getting £2.7m or £2.8m out of a £15m package. Affordable housing is one of our top priorities as a council, but levels in the district are woefully low. We have a duty to ask for it and I think we are being short changed with what we are getting out of this."

Mr Knapman did not seek to propose this after it was explained that the request would be justified, considering the package already on offer.

The extension was granted with a changed condition regarding the roundabout, requiring the access and roundabout to be constructed in an acceptable manner before any development starts.