Residents fear developer will continue for fight for thousands of homes

VILLAGERS in Henham and Elsenham remain defiant and ready to fight the controversial Option 4 – despite the district council agreeing to adopt a dispersal strategy for housing growth.

Chairman of the Save Our Village committee Nick Baker said the campaign group still expected The Fairfield Partnership, which owns about 250 hectares of land to the north-east of Elsenham, to attempt to overturn the decision.

Although 400 homes have been earmarked for Elsenham over the next 15 years, he believes a planning application will be made in the near future to build far more.

“This planning application will be made, despite the fair and open consultations made under the Local Development Framework processes that have informed the decision,” he said.

“The JPCSG are prepared for this application and will be opposing it with due vigour.”

A spokesman from the Fairfield Partnership said the developer remained committed to delivering “much-needed” new homes in Uttlesford and was looking to submit a planning application this year.

“We are taking stock of the council’s emerging spatial strategy for the delivery of homes and jobs across the district.

“However, we maintain that concentrating growth close to public transport is the most appropriate way to deliver sustainable growth and supporting infrastructure.

“Our plans could deliver anything from 400 to 3,000 new homes, supported by new jobs and a range of highways, public transport, education, health, recreation and environmental improvements, commensurate with the size of the development.”