What is Site 99 Billet Road ?
Its the site of London Borough of Redbridge's latest 'idea' for Green Belt land. Well it was Green Belt and part of Fairlop Plain until LBR de-registered it.
The History
The Metropolitan Green Belt around London was first proposed by the Greater London Regional Planning Committee in 1935.
The fundamental aim of the Green Belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open. It also acts as the Lungs of London.
In 2010 Redbridge Green Belt Review Stage 3: PPG2 Assessment.Colin Buchanan in association with Wardell Armstrong University College London. p131
LBR GB14 - Fairlop Plain, (includes what is now called Site 99) is Green Belt.
Note the report states Constraints Physical:
- Waste Disposal – landfill / unknown filled ground (pond, marsh, river, stream etc). Sewage - Infrastructure – railways
- Made/ Worked Ground (BGS)
- Production – chemical production: Plastic Goods
- Other – factory or works
In Jan 2016 Redbridge Green Belt Review Wardell Armstrong p37
Site E: Land to south of Billet Road, Little Heath
It is recommended that the site be retained in the Green Belt and that it is not sub-divided.
In Oct 2016 - The Mayor considered LBR's proposal (Pre-Submission Draft Redbridge Local Plan 2015 - 2030) to de-designate the land at Billet Road and OBJECTED to the release.Stating: 'Billet Road, This site meets the Green Belt and wider open spaces tests and should be retained as Green Belt" and "The Mayor has made clear that in line with his manifesto pledge, he wishes to protect Green Belt Land"
In Nov 2017 - The Mayor states: Of all the sites proposed for de-designation from Green Belt in the Redbridge Local Plan Submission document, Land at Billet Road Site meets the most tests for Green Belt. It is the Mayor's opinion that NO compelling evidence has been provided for the site be released from the Green Belt and therefore objects.
Jun 2017 Redbridge Local Plan shows the Billet Road land as a site to be developed into 1,100 homes because it not longer meets national criteria to qualify as green belt !
Jun 2017 Ilford Recorder reports on Local Plan meeting, Aecom claim 'a number of high hedges served to completely isolate the Billet Road land (site 99) from the rest of Fairlop green belt'. And Aecom argued that it does not meet any of the criteria from Green Belt. NOTE Aecom are working alongside Redbridge to develop this site.
Jun 2018 Releasing the Green Belt by Assoc. planning Consultant AECOM "In his final report, the Inspector agreed with AECOM and over-ruled the GLA including that of AECOM’s client at Billet Road, became development allocations in the adopted Local Plan
Mar 2019 Redbridge Local Plan 2015 - 2030 now includes Billet Road Land - Site 99
So LBR agree with Aecom (developers) to release the site ... a win-win for both of them.
