Residents attend packed meeting on 800 Great Dunmow homes

Great Dunmow Town Council's planning committee held the meeting on Thursday, July 23, which lasted more than three-and-a-half hours.

Gladman Developments plans to build approximately 800 new homes on land at The Broadway.

Residents expressed strongly held and largely united concerns about the proposals.

Following extensive public participation and debate, the planning committee did not reach a final recommendation on the application.

Instead, members agreed to defer consideration until they had obtained professional planning and legal advice.

This guidance will help the council reflect the views expressed by residents and ensure its eventual submission to Uttlesford Council is robust and carries the greatest possible weight in the planning process.

A significant number of questions were raised by those attending, and council officers will now compile these into a public questions-and-answers document.

The council aims to publish the questions and available answers by Friday, July 31, although some responses may depend on information from external organisations.

The issues raised will also be shared with the professional planning adviser supporting the council.

A temporary planning information and exhibition space will open at Foakes House, the council offices, from Monday, July 27.

The exhibition will be open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

It will give residents access to planning documents, maps, and other information related to the application, as well as an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.

Great Dunmow Town Council hopes this resource will help residents understand how to make effective representations using planning evidence and material planning considerations.

An extraordinary meeting of full council will also be convened to discuss the application.

The meeting will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday, July 30 at Foakes Hall.

It will replace the scheduled downs and commons committee meeting, which will be postponed.

Once the necessary professional advice has been received, the application will be reconsidered and a formal consultation response agreed.

Residents and the town council have until August 12 to submit representations to Uttlesford  Council.

Officers and councillors are working to ensure the council’s response is properly researched, lawful and submitted within the consultation period.

Improving communication with residents is a key part of the town council’s emerging strategic plan.

Following comments made at the meeting, officers will explore launching a planning email newsletter and sharing more frequent updates through the council’s website, social-media pages, and community groups.

The deputy town clerk said: "More than 100 people attended and gave up over three hours of their evening to make their voices heard.

"We recognise the strength of feeling in the community and the importance of this application to the future of Great Dunmow.

"The town council did not make a rushed decision.

"Members agreed to obtain professional advice so that our eventual response is grounded in planning law, policy, evidence and the concerns raised by residents.

"It is the boring and technical response that will have the most weight when submitted to the planning authority."