Plans for huge industrial estate off The Street in Takeley prompt fears over environmental damage and risk to Hatfield Forest
Controversial plans for a large industrial estate on the outskirts of Takeley have been unveiled.
Pigeon (Takeley) Ltd has submitted initial proposals for the employment scheme, comprising light industrial units, strategic warehousing and distribution uses on land north of Taylors Farm, The Street. The site is just over two miles from Stansted Airport.
If agreed, the estate would have up to 910,000 sq ft (84,542 sq m) of floor space – the equivalent of around eight football pitches – spread among separate buildings.
The applicant claims that once the business units are in operation, the development could provide up to 1,000 new jobs.
The scheme forms part of Uttlesford District Council’s (UDC) Draft Local Plan, the planning blueprint for 14,000 homes, infrastructure, jobs and leisure development in the district over the next 20 years.
But it has sparked concerns from residents, parish councils, Natural England and the National Trust, which is worried about the impact on Hatfield Forest. They are demanding that UDC fully assesses the impact on the environment from the proposed development.
Describing it as “the finest surviving example of a small mediaeval royal hunting forest in Europe”, the National Trust said: “The proposals could significantly increase the number of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on The Street, with associated air quality impacts on the forest, and should therefore be subject to environmental impact assessment (EIA) in this regard.”
Cllr Susan Barker, Essex county councillor for the Dunmow division and Uttlesford district councillor for High Easter and the Rodings, said: “This potential development will affect Great Hallingbury, Takeley and Little Canfield.
“There is potential for an increase in lorry movements on the B1256 as well as through Great Hallingbury, which is a narrow road with no pavements along much of its length. The issues of Hatfield Forest, the Flitch Way and Priory Wood also need to be considered.”
Little Canfield Parish Council asked that an EIA should include a study of the impacts of HGVs passing ancient buildings in The Street and what mitigation would be required to protect Priory Wood, to screen the development from landscape and heritage harm, and to protect the waterway central to the site and the surface and foul water impacts that the emerging Local Plan identifies.
One resident said that construction would have a detrimental effect on the environment that needs to be safeguarded. “Due to the close proximity to Hatfield Forest and Flitch Way impact zone, wildlife and ecosystems will be adversely affected by noise, dust, vibration and other types of pollution,” they said.
“In addition, there will be chaos on the B1256 due to an increase in HGVs and traffic, increasing the likelihood of serious accidents on a narrow road with very narrow, almost non-existent footpaths in some parts.”
Another added: “During and post construction, there will be an unsufferable increase in noise and light pollution along with debilitating levels of dust and vibrations. The area already suffers from considerable noise pollution from the airport.
“The local highway network will suffer a substantial impact as a result of the increase in HGVs accessing the site. This will be felt along the B1256 and junction 8 of the M11.”
