Campaign Questions

Residents say the proposal would place a large housing development on open land that forms part of Ongar's rural setting, while adding pressure to roads, services, drainage, and wildlife habitat.

The campaign case is that the land south of Chelmsford Road is Green Belt countryside and should remain protected from inappropriate development.

The main concerns are Green Belt loss, harm to rural character, traffic pressure, already stretched infrastructure, surface water flooding risk, biodiversity loss, and the effect on Ongar's community identity.

Supporters are concerned about extra traffic on Chelmsford Road, the A414, the Four Wantz roundabout, the High Street, and nearby junctions, alongside more pressure on doctors, schools, buses, and parking.

Residents are worried that development on open land could worsen surface water runoff and lead to the loss of habitat, farmland, and wildlife corridors around the edge of Ongar.

OCRRAG argues that the site is not allocated in the adopted development plan and that permission should be refused because the proposal would cause unacceptable harm.

The planning authority being asked to refuse the proposal is Epping Forest District Council.

The campaign is calling for brownfield and grey land to be prioritised before countryside, farmland, riverside land, orchards, open green space, or wildlife habitat are lost.

Residents can help by sharing local concerns, attending campaign events, contacting OCRRAG, and supporting informed objections focused on planning, infrastructure, flooding, biodiversity, and local character.