Aecom & London Borough of Redbridge

Letter from Aecom to Redbridge

In December 2014, we submitted representations to the Preferred Options Report Extension consultation on behalf of East Thames under the name of URS, our legacy company. This presented a comprehensive case for de-allocating the land south of Billet Road from the Green Belt. 

We submitted further representations in July 2016 to the Local Plan Review 2015-2030: Pre-Submission Draft consultation. This supported the objectives of the pre-submission draft.

The Council’s proposed housing supply is mainly brownfield, these opportunities may be less deliverable than the larger greenfield sites as they are small, fragmented, in multiple ownerships, and tend to have relatively more physical constraints.

 So that says it all, there is brownfield but it may be less deliverable - does that translate as more expensive?

Aecom article 'Optimising build to rent returns'  probably explains their great interest in the Billet Road site 99. But what does it mean to those living in London Borough of Redbridge and wanting homes? Will they be able to afford any? will they all be sold to 'investors'?

East Thames Housing Association Design requirements

URS Representations on behalf of East Thames Group

Hedge Height decides Green Belt de-designation Billet Road

Developers Aecom claimed 'a number of high hedges served to completely isolate the Billet Road land (site 99) from the rest of Fairlop green belt.'

Not a very high hedge ...  isolate? really?

The Hedge - Billet Road Google Map

Site 99 clearly part of Fairlop Plain

 

3 Markets go to Barking Reach!

After months of campaigning against LBR's proposal to dump Billingsgate, Smithfields and New Spitalfields on Fairlop Plain , Green Belt, the City of London Corporation thankfully made the right decision and stated that Barking Reach, Dagenham is its preferred choice.

Meanwhile Redbridge's proposal is added to the list of madcap ideas in the annuals of history, along with the airport and racecourse on Fairlop Plain.

As London continues to move East, and LBR tries its best to make as much money out of it, frequently at the dismay of its residents (Reminder - they vote for you) we need to keep our Green Belt - The Lungs of London

London Borough of Redbridge - You might want to take head of the Petition against this plan, 2,960 people said NO to building on Redbridge Green Belt.

 

Brownfield sites available for 12,579 homes in Redbridge

The Green Belt of Redbridge is being destroyed despite the fact that there are brownfield sites available - WHY??

According to Campaign to Protect Rural England / Redbridge Council:

12,579 homes can be built on 128 identified brownfield sites in Redbridge

See Ilford Recorder.

Lets at least start with these. Stop wasting time and money trying to destroy the Green Belt, build the homes on the brown field sites and then see what, if anything else, is needed and also look at the brown field sites that have been missed off the register or any that have subsequently become available.

According to Redbridge Council the Local Plan was widely consulted on - with who? certainly not with the local residents. These being the people that actually pay for all this in the first place.

The Ilford recorder reported on the the saving of Oakfields playing fields in Barkingside BUT failed to report on the loss of Green Belt at Billet Road. So instead of 850 homes being built on Oakfields (Green Belt) they are to be built on Billet Road (Green Belt).

According to DEFRA the very site Redbridge want to build homes and a school on is Landfill.

Our Green and pleasant land - not 'just ploughed fields'

Redbridge's Operational Director of Regeneration & Property seems to have the most unpleasant view of our heritage and refers to our beautiful Green Belt as 'just ploughed fields',

It seems to us that, of all people, members of the local council should acknowledge and respect the area that they work for and the residents that live here.

In any event, fields that are ploughed are in use, are achieving something, they are providing for us, not only as a source of food and employment but in the case of the Green belt Redbridge wish to destroy, rapeseed.

Rapeseed is the third-largest source of vegetable oil and second-largest source of protein meal.

Crops of rapeseed, were among the earliest plants to be cultivated by mankind as early as 10,000 years ago.

Plus its bright yellow appearance attracts bees which are so important to our environment.

And did those feet in ancient time,
Walk upon Englands mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On Englands pleasant pastures seen!
 (William Blake)

You can see for Miles, Billet Road

This is what it looks like, Billet Road in March early evening. The Green Belt .. beautiful

This is where they want to put 3 giant London markets, Billingsgate, Smithfields and New Spitalfields and what it would look like:

 

Ilford Recorded 2 Mar 2019

Beauty or the beast?