An Objection Letter
The objection letter below was written by one of our committee members. If we are to get those making decisions on our side it better that you use it to inspire your own thoughts than simply cut and paste it Maybe simply pick your hottest topic and create your own summary?
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If you already know how to object click here to jump to the example objection.
How to Object
To view the application you need to visit:
Once there, enter the Application Number which is 24/00864/FUL and spend a leisurely week or so viewing all 132 Documents, 7 Constraints and 1 Related Case!
How to Comment or Object
You can either register your comments online or in writing.
- Using the link above click on ‘Comments’ and follow the instructions (see Guidance Notes below on the ‘rules’ you must follow).
- Alternatively you can send a letter to
The Planning Officer,
Town Hall,
Ingrave Road,
Brentwood,
CM15 8AY.
Objection to Planning Application 24/00864/FUL
From: [Name & Address]
Email: [Email address]
I object to this application on numerous grounds but, more importantly I also object to the dishonest way in which R16 was added to the Local Plan as though it were a single parcel of land. A parcel of land that had no single distinctive characteristic. It has not been a contiguous piece of land since the A12 was built and, since that time, it has developed into two discrete environments. One a wet woodland with great species diversity of both flora & fauna, the other a natural pasture that, being unmanaged by man, has also developed a rich ecology.
On specific matters I object because of:
Preference to using Green Field rather than Grey/Brown Field
There remain many sites that are not being developed such as the old garage on Ingrave Road and the council should be persuading developers to use these eyesore sites rather than such a pleasant amenity such as this. Indeed there also appear to be many completed developments that are still failing to sell. Developers love green field sites because they are the cheapest to develop and yet command the same retail prices. The council should not consider any Green field developments until all Grey/Brown sites are developed and sold.
Air Quality
The A12 running adjacent to the proposed development is hugely polluting as evidenced by the adjacent areas being within an AQMA. Although current trends suggest that CO pollution will be reducing, NO2 is probably not since Freight continues to be dominated by Diesel. Furthermore Particulate Matter is likely to be increasing as the proportion of heavier Electric cars grows. As well as the A12 being a major source, though, increases in local traffic will exacerbate this.
It is also worth noting that the pasture is a highly efficient absorber of Carbon, certainly more so than maintained grassland, since being ‘tall pasture’ it has long roots that die back building up organic matter in the soil as the grass is grazed and then regrows in a virtuous cycle.
I believe that a full spectrum Air Quality report should be undertaken at a time that is representative of true traffic levels rather than those taken during Lockdown or the immediate period after when homeworking was still widespread.
Traffic
At peak hours, exiting Doddinghurst Road onto Ongar Road (particularly in the morning rush) is already extremely difficult since the Ongar Road traffic dominates the traffic flow. Additional developments further up Doddinghurst Road and this new potential development will only add to the carnage.
Before agreeing to allow this to happen, we need to be assured that traffic surveys that have been undertaken to justify the development were taken at a time not affected by:
- lockdowns,
- the time in the immediate aftermath of the main COVID emergency when Homeworking was the norm,
- school holidays (including Brentwood School which has a significant impact on local traffic levels), or
- unusually prolonged weather conditions that would tend to suppress traffic (e.g. snow).
Local Services
With increasing levels of infill development already in the immediate area the addition of what might be as many as 600-800 new residents will have a significant impact on local services such as Schools, GPs, dentists & other medical services. No provision is being made for this in the proposed development and the likelihood of any S105 monies being able to address them in the immediate area are negligible. In the relatively recent past studies and investigations have shown that
- The Brentwood & Basildon CCG has one of the worst levels of GP provision in England & Wales (BBC),
- The 4 local primary schools are up to 3 times oversubscribed. (Essex Live)
Mental Health & Wellbeing
The UKHSA has said that
We’ve known for some time that good quality natural landscape in urban areas can affect how people feel. It reduces stress and sadness, lifts the mood and makes us feel better. The benefit of these green and blue spaces, and the mechanisms by which they work, are varied.
Pilgrims Hatch & Brentwood are urban areas and this proposed development is on one of the few natural landscapes in our area.
Water, Drainage & Flood Risk
As the Climate changes we are already experiencing more ‘extreme’ weather events with increasing incidences of heavy rain in particular. The Met Office believes that, by 2070, winters will be up to 30% wetter than previously with storm conditions already more than 40% more likely. Residents I have heard from near the site have experienced raw sewage in flood water in recent years.
The proposed development is on top of a Critical Drainage Area with some natural watercourses and high potential to absorb moisture. With much of the area being covered by roads and buildings, this resource will be lost and could impact on neighbouring properties and, indeed, possibly Doddinghurst Road as run off from the site.
Wildlife
The site has diverse wildlife as mentioned earlier. In particular there are three species of nesting bats (Natterer’s, Noctule & Pipistrelle) and badgers, all protected species. The proposal to relocate the known badger sett to an artificial one near the A12 is inappropriate both in terms of removing them from their natural environment and in terms of putting them in harms way. It is also inconsistent with the provisions of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 which, inter alia, makes it an offence to:
- intentionally or recklessly damage or destroy a badger sett or obstruct access to it,
- disturb a badger when it is occupying its sett.
Consideration should also be given to crops’ reliance on butterflies, wasps, bees and other species for pollination. The ‘horses field’, as we have come to know it, offers significant levels of opportunities for these species to thrive and service our local agriculture.
Noise
The noise levels from the A12 will not improve (especially with heavier cars creating more noise than lighter ones), and with the best will in the world, those who might come to live in the new development, should it be built, will find the noise levels to be excessive.
