5600 homes plan for part of Essex
Proposals in Braintree are causing some concern
Housing developments totalling more than 5,000 homes in a part of Essex will lead to a “nightmare” traffic problem, it has been claimed. Kings Dene is proposed as a large new settlement of around 5,000 homes in an area of Braintree, intended to meet the district’s long-term housing needs.
The site lies to the north and west of Kelvedon, with Kelvedon High Street, Feering Hill and Station Road forming key access roads to the site that residents say are already under severe strain.
The neighbouring Monks Farm development of 600 houses to the south-west of Kelvedon has also been included in the draft Local Plan proposals that is currently heading to the Regulation 19 stage – the final public consultation stage before the plan goes to the government for examination.
Claims that other areas could potentially take large numbers – including sites at Andrewsfield in the west of Braintree – have so far been discounted on the basis that Kings Dene has better public transport links including rail. A RAG (Red, Amber, Green) assessment in transport planning evaluating site suitability, highway access, and development impacts has been questioned.
Councillor Paul Thorogood said at a local plan sub committee last week: “It is fair to ask how much confidence we can place in its forecast for another 5,600 homes at King’s Dene. I’m also concerned that the RAG assessment appears to favour Kings Dene over Andrewsfield.
“Andrewsfield already has better access to the strategic road network through the A120 and M11 and avoids many of the transport constraints affecting Kings Dene including dependence on the A12 railway crossings and congested village roads.
“Yet Kings Dene has consistently been assessed more favourably. Before this plan moves to Regulation 19, I urge the council to review the RAG assessments using the latest evidence and ensure every strategic site has been assessed consistently, objectively, and on the basis of up-to-date infrastructure information.”
Councillor James Abbott said the council needs to look at the potential housing sites in Rayne and west of Braintree. He added: “That’s not to say I’m saying it should all be over there and none at Kelvedon. I accept Kelvedon is going to have to take some. I accept Cressing and Silver End and Rivenhall and Hatfield Peverel and Witham are all going to have housing. What I’m saying is we need a better balance. It’s simply not acceptable to put three quarters of the sites in the southeast of this district.”
He added: “We already have very significant public transport provision. And yet traffic is rising relentlessly from all the developments going on in the area. And the reason for that is that the statistics show that something like only 10 per cent of all journeys will be taken by the train.
“The vast majority of transport trips from King’s Dene will be by car and van. Unfortunately, that is the reality of the situation. So, I don’t buy all this mitigation stuff. What I see is a nightmare coming down the tracks.”
Sarah Ashton, head of planning at Braintree District Council, said the government tool shows that Kings Dene has a better accessibility rating than Andrewsfield largely because of the rail links that Andrewsfield doesn’t have. The pre-submission local plan and supporting evidence will be presented to Full Council on September 17.
Subject to approval, the pre-submission version of the Regulation 19 version is expected to be published this autumn, providing another opportunity for residents and stakeholders to comment before the plan is submitted for examination after full council in December.