Little Easton villagers fight plans for a ‘new town of 10,000 homes’ on their doorstep
Little Easton residents have previously fought off a large housing development proposal. Picture: ARCHANT - Credit: Archant
A battle has begun against plans for 3,500 houses near Little Easton, to be called Easton Park, which residents fear will lead to a new town of 10,000 homes under successive Local Plans.
A Little Easton Action Group, called Keep Little Easton Little, has been formed, led by the village’s parish council, to fight this aspect of the current Uttlesford Local Plan.
The proposal for the new houses has been put forward by developer Land Securities, which already owns the land.
Little Easton Parish Council has objected, saying: “The community played a big part in stopping the 700 houses on land west of Great Dunmow.
“We need to act now to stop this new town the size of Cambourne. Ultimately, it could be bigger than Great Dunmow.”
The first 3,500 houses would be in the Easton Lodge area of Little Easton, with construction beginning near the historic Gardens of Easton Lodge. The parish council says this would be a settlement three times bigger than Flitch Green and access would be via the A120 roundabout to Great Dunmow.
Parish council chairman, Chris Audritt, told the Broadcast: “The first phase of 3,500 homes would be on an isolated site. People would have to drive about a mile-and-a-half from the road to get to their homes. Infrastructure would not be provided and it would only be justified by building more houses.
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“Land Securities has made it clear that its ambition is to build 10,000 houses. This would change the character, not only of Little Easton but the area around it.
“There would be one mass of urban sprawl from Great Dunmow to Little Canfield. They are proposing a new town. Little Easton would be swallowed up and imagine how much traffic there would be and the impact on the M11 and the A120.
“There are places where development makes sense and places where it doesn’t.”
He added that although there would be some social and affordable housing, most homes were likely to be bought by London commuters rather than local people.
Leaflets distributed to villagers urge residents to form action groups, write to spapers and to Uttlesford district councillors.
Parish clerk, Jackie Deane said: “There are a wide range of things people can do but the important thing is to do something.”
