Update on Hammonds Farm and Pigeon Industrial site Development

The second round of consultation has now closed, and we now play a waiting game allowing Chelmsford City Council (CCC) time to review the objections and compile their report. However, the Working group are not sitting idly by, we will be attending various events over the coming months to make sure that these developments remain at the forefront of resident’s thoughts.

As we move further into the consultation process for Hammonds Farm 3,100 houses and 500,000sqft of industrial buildings and warehouses along with the proposed Pigeon industrial development consisting of another 500,000sqft, concerns continue to mount regarding the impact these large-scale developments will have on our community, residents have voiced serious reservations about the direction these projects are heading, and it is becoming increasingly clear that significant issues remain unresolved.

Frustration That Our Concerns May Be Overlooked

While the public consultation process is intended to be a genuine dialogue. There is growing frustration that the feedback and objections provided by residents will not be given the weight it deserves but the Working Group will continue to monitor CCC closely so that all our objections are taken into account. As you will be aware we managed to raise over 4,500 objections against both 16a (Hammonds Farm development) and 16b (Pigeon Industrial development) which is unprecedented for a second-round consultation and this has presented an unforeseen administrative task on CCC and will take them several weeks complete.

We have received feedback from many of you that think the consultation process has been more about CCC ticking boxes than truly gathering and addressing the concerns raised. The Working Group can assure you that we will be holding CCC to account and will endeavour to conduct a full reconciliation of objections submitted via our portal against what CCC has logged on their system.

we agree that key issues such as the overdevelopment of green spaces, the strain on existing infrastructure, the potential loss of local character, and flood risk seem to be consistently sidelined in favour of pushing projects like these forward which raises serious questions about the transparency and sincerity of the consultation process but we will continue to monitor the progress and ensure our voices are heard.

For example, both Hammonds Farm and Pigeon have promised a 20% biodiversity net gain even though the required national target is only 10%. This is a great example of them being overly optimistic about something that could not be measured and would not be monitored after the developments are completed, as such these statements are merely paying lip service to the various groups likely to challenge them.  

Environmental Impact

One of the most pressing concerns is the significant environmental impact these developments could have. The Hammonds Farm site is located on valuable high-grade farming land, and there are fears that developing it will result in irreversible damage to local ecosystems.

Furthermore, the Pigeon development’s environmental assessments have been criticised for being incomplete or overly optimistic, with insufficient attention paid to issues like water management, biodiversity, and long-term sustainability.

Overburdened Infrastructure

Another major point of contention is the strain these developments will place on already overburdened infrastructure. Local roads are already congested, and the proposed developments will only exacerbate the problem. The consultation has highlighted this concern repeatedly, yet there seems to be no concrete plan to address the increased traffic and pressure on local services.

Public transport, healthcare facilities, and schools are also at capacity, and the influx of new residents will only heighten these challenges. Promises of future infrastructure improvements remain vague and far from guaranteed, leaving us to wonder how the community will cope with such rapid and large-scale growth.

Lack of Affordable Housing

Despite claims that these developments will address local housing needs, there is scepticism about whether they will truly benefit the community. The so-called “affordable housing” provision has been criticised as insufficient and unlikely to make a meaningful difference to those who are struggling to find housing in the area.

Others fear that these developments will cater primarily to higher-income buyers, effectively pricing out local families and doing little to resolve the ongoing housing crisis.

Loss of Community Character

One of the most troubling aspects of these developments is the potential loss of the community’s unique character. The Hammonds Farm and Pigeon sites are situated in areas that are rich in history and natural beauty. Large-scale developments threaten to erode the rural charm that residents cherish, replacing it with cookie-cutter housing that could make our community indistinguishable from any other sprawling suburb.

Local heritage, wildlife habitats, and cherished green spaces are all at risk of being lost forever in the rush to build.

Next Steps

As the consultation process continues, it is essential that the voices of the community are not drowned out by developers’ ambitions. We urge residents to remain engaged and vocal in opposing these developments until meaningful changes are made to address the concerns that have been raised.