Objecting to Braintree District Council's draft local plan's proposals for King's Dene and Monk's Farm in Kelvedon; template guidance

IMPORTANT KINGS DENE UPDATE & ACTION REQUIRED

On Tuesday, Braintree District Council (BDC) announced that the 'Regulation 18' Draft Consultation was live on the Local Plan consultation and that therefore, for the next 6 weeks they would be seeking comments from the public and other stakeholders.

The deadline for comments is 17th April at 5pm. 

•  KAUS has produced a leaflet with information with information on the proposals and details on how to object; we will shortly be asking residents for help with delivering these.

  We will also be holding a drop-in session locally to support residents with raising their objections.

  
  

• Our fundraising efforts will continue, with more exciting community events coming soon.

 Here is a template residents in Kelvedon, Feering, Coggeshall and surrounding villages can copy, personalise, and submit to Braintree District Council to object to its Local Plan proposals for the Kings Dene 5,000 houses and Monks Farm 600 houses at Kelvedon.

Subject: Regulation 18 Local Plan Review – Objection to Kings Dene (5,000 homes) and Monks Farm (600 homes)

Dear Planning Policy Team,

I am writing to object to the proposed allocations for Kings Dene (5,000 homes) and Monks Farm (600 homes) near Kelvedon in the draft Local Plan.

Kelvedon and Feering are historic villages with limited infrastructure. Development on this scale would fundamentally change the character and functioning of the area.

My main concerns are:

1. Traffic and congestion

The A12 junction at Kelvedon South already experiences peak-time congestion. Local roads including the High Street, London Road and Feering Hill are frequently busy, and access to Kelvedon Station is constrained. With the cancellation of previously proposed A12 widening and A120 upgrades, the local road network does not have the capacity to support thousands of additional homes.

2. Lack of guaranteed infrastructure

There is no clear, funded or guaranteed plan demonstrating that essential infrastructure would be delivered before housing. This includes schools, healthcare provision, road upgrades, public transport improvements and sewer capacity. Large developments are often built years before infrastructure is delivered, placing pressure on existing communities.

3. Loss of countryside and merging of villages

Development of around 5,600 homes would significantly reduce the countryside gap between Kelvedon, Feering, Coggeshall, Rivenhall and Silver End. This risks merging separate historic settlements and permanently losing valuable agricultural land and open countryside.

4. Drainage, sewage and flood risk

Residents already experience drainage problems, surface water flooding and concerns about sewer capacity. A development of this scale would place substantial additional pressure on water and sewage infrastructure.

5. Unsustainable scale of development

Kelvedon is a village rather than a town and does not have the road network, employment base or public services to support very large population growth. Development on this scale would be more appropriate in locations with existing town-level infrastructure.

6. Air quality concerns

Significant additional traffic would worsen air pollution on already busy roads. This is particularly concerning given the proximity of the proposed developments to the Rivenhall Airfield waste incinerator, raising potential cumulative air quality impacts.

7. Impact on wildlife and habitats

The surrounding countryside supports a wide range of wildlife including bats, barn owls, hares and other protected species. Large-scale development risks damaging important habitats and biodiversity.

For these reasons I believe the proposed allocations at Kings Dene and Monks Farm are unsustainable in scale and location and should not be included in the Local Plan.

Yours faithfully

Name

Address

Postcode

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