Developer City & Country to unveil scheme for major housing development between Stansted Mountfitchet and Birchanger

A consultation event is being held in Bishop’s Stortford later this week over plans for a major housing development that would effectively join the villages of Stansted Mountfitchet and Birchanger.

Stansted-based developer City & Country is to unveil plans for a “sensitive, landscape-led” development in the Green Belt of an unspecified number of hundreds of “much-needed, high-quality new homes, including a significant amount of affordable homes”.

The developer is looking to get the agricultural site included in Uttlesford District Council’s Draft Local Plan, the blueprint for future housing, infrastructure, jobs and leisure development.

It says: “Given the increasing housing needs in Uttlesford, it represents area for growth in between Stansted Mountfitchet and Birchanger, creating a logical extension to these settlements, with existing infrastructure and services capable of supporting growth without significant additional investment.

“With the focus on ‘greening’, it will soften the plans for homes and build a buffer between the homes and each surrounding settlement to prevent one larger settlement being formed.”

City & Country says the proposals are at “very early stages” and adds: “It is envisaged that the development could commence at some point in 2026, taking a few years to be fully complete, though more precise timings will be known once planning permission has been secured.”

The site is bordered by Forest Hall Road in Stansted to the north and Birchanger to the south, and by Tot Lane – a single-track road linking Forest Hall Road and Birchanger Lane – to the west and the M11 to the east.

It also includes a single field just north of the A120 bypass bordered by the B1383 and the foot of Birchanger Lane.

Land immediately to the south of Forest Hall School allocated for future expansion of the Stansted secondary lies within the site.

City & Country’s scheme also includes public open green space, shops, community facilities, play space and new roads through the site.

“The development will benefit both new residents and those already living in the nearby villages,” it says.

As for transport, the developer says: “The scheme will promote cycling and walking as the primary modes of travel and integrate into the existing footpath infrastructure, in addition to enhancing the existing public right of way routes.

“A comprehensive Travel Plan will be included as part of a future planning application to identify the measures that will be taken to encourage new residents and those working at the development to travel by means other than the private car.

“Detailed traffic analysis will be undertaken as part of the outline planning application to identify the likely constraints and impacts on local roads near to the development, as well as the impact on the strategic highway network including Junction 8 of the M11.

“The transport assessment will also consider the implications on public transport services and how to maximise the opportunity of sustainable travel from the development to Stansted Airport for its employment uses or for onward travel.”

The public consultation event takes place at Bishop’s Stortford Football Club’s RDA Stadium on the Woodside industrial estate, off Dunmow Road, on Thursday (Nov 28) from 3pm to 7pm.

The developer says: “This is your opportunity to help shape these proposals by providing your views on how the housing, retail and employment, community and recreational, green spaces and infrastructure could benefit the people of Stansted Mountfitchet and Birchanger.”

Who are City & Country?

City & Country claims to be the UK’s leading heritage developer with “a growing reputation of making new places for communities to live and enjoy”. It says: “We cherish the past and wish to use our skill in making better places for the future that serve society needs sustainably.”

Its head offices have been in Stansted for more than 20 years and before that it was based in Hatfield Heath for 30-plus years.

“Our larger schemes to date have been in east Essex, although historically we have done smaller new-build schemes within 20 miles of Stansted. [We] have always been very local to the area and our aim is to leave a positive lasting legacy in the region.”

It is a long-time supporter of conservation charity the Essex Wildlife Trust.

Last year, it won the Evening Standard’s Best Out of London Home award. Earlier this month, it won WhatHouse?’s Housebuilder of the Year 2024.