Since EFDC issued Enforcement Notices on Blunts Farm Estates Limited in January 2006, both parties have been busy negotiating a compromise in an attempt to avoid a Public Inquiry.

EFDC have since voted to withdraw the original set of Enforcement Notices. The Planning Inspectorate Public Inquiry scheduled for 9th January 2007 has been cancelled. The Planning Inspectorate will review the situation in 3 months.

The compromise that EFDC hope will avoid a defeat at a Public Inquiry, is the granting of a new planning application.

Blunts Farm Estates Limited have now submitted a new planning application;
EPF/2195/06

'Completion of 18 hole golf course, practice ground and academy with varied landscaping/contouring from permission granted on 23.04.02 (EPF/765/99) including water features and creation of planted buffer zone to eastern boundaries and access to Abridge Road. Erection of a golf club house, groundsmen's equipment store and fertilizer/chemical store with associated car parking.'

The application involves the importation of;

48,509 cubic metres of construction waste, an estimation of 6,064 lorry loads. 
23,978 cubic metres of top soil, an estimation of 2,997 lorry loads and
Fine construction materials - sand, an estimation of 7,000 lorry loads 

That is a total estimation of 16,061 single HGV trips, 32,122 return trips.

'Given that construction can begin as soon as ground conditions allow in spring 2007, it is envisaged that the golf course can be completed and seeded by autumn 2007. It is intended that deliveries of construction materials will be made throughout the construction period to minimise the impact on local traffic flows, using the existing access from Abridge Road.' - through Abridge.

Given that no material was exported from the site how can they require further material to fill voids?

Given that the original application stated that they did not require additional topsoil, why do they now?
The developers initial methodology statement detailed the importation of 140,000 cubic metres of waste, about 6 lorry movements per hour!
How much material do they wish to import? Does the estimation of 16,000 lorry movements represent an honest figure, or will importation continue at the previous indiscriminate, unchecked, and unmonitored volumes?
Will this be the start of another 2 ½ years of 250 daily HGV trips?
The Environment Agency have confirmed that it is practice in these circumstances to import 'dirty' soil and 're-grade' it on site to produce soil of the appropriate quality. It could therefore be construed that the requirement for the importation of top soil is also for financial gain, Sir John Harman, Chairman of the Environment Agency estimates that the developer has made in excess of £15 million importing waste onto this site.
The planning application re-sites the clubhouse and 300 car parking spaces at the bottom of the site adjacent to the footpath close to the Old Foresters site. This would make for a more logical location assuming that the developer still intends to further develop a hotel, night-club and or health / sports centre on the Foresters Site and makes the 300 car parking spaces seem more logical.

Please if you have any objections to this new application you have three weeks to lodge your concerns at EFDC before it is considered at the District Developmental Control Committee meeting on either 7th February or 17th April 2007.

Please write or email for the attention of Stephan Solon, Civic Offices, High Street, Epping Essex, CM16 4BZ. ssolon@eppingforestdc.gov.uk quoting the reference EPF/2195/06.

The next Theydon Bois Parish Council meeting is on 30th November, 8pm at the Village Hall.