R4U believes that a recently published highways study by Essex County Council derails Uttlesford District Council’s proposals to build 1350 new homes on the east of Saffron Walden.


R4U Chair & Leader UDC
The ECC Saffron Walden Traffic Study Update, November 2016 was produced by ECC for UDC under a commercial contract with ECC to provide evidence to support UDC’s draft Local Plan. It is an update to October 2013 and March 2014 studies produced to support UDC’s 2014 draft Local Plan proposals to build 800 homes on the east of Saffron Walden. That 2014 draft Plan was rejected by the Planning Inspector for a number of reasons including the town’s road network and a question-mark over the deliverability of any new roads. Just after the rejection of the draft Plan, one of UDC’s flagship sites for new homes on the east of Saffron Walden was also rejected by the Planning Inspector, who again cited issues with the road network.
In the summer of 2016 and again in November, UDC stated that they wanted to build 1350 new homes in Saffron Walden as part of their new Local Plan. UDC has already approved 600, even though their Local Plan is still a draft; and the UDC Cabinet is currently proposing a further 750 new homes on the east of the town, making 1350 in total.
The 2016 traffic/highways update was published by UDC in November, but is unavailable on the UDC website. It can be downloaded from the R4U website.
About Residents for Uttlesford
Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) is the local independent party of north-west Essex towns and villages. Formed in 2014 by a number of residents’ groups, the party believes that on local issues residents should decide, not Westminster parties.
R4U leads Uttlesford District Council (UDC). It is the fastest growing local political movement in its district. In its first election in 2015 it became the second party at UDC. In 2017 it solidified its position with a further by-election gain with 60% of the vote. In the May 2019 Local Elections R4U gained majority control of UDC winning two-thirds of the seats. The result delivered the biggest loss of seats by any UK Conservative controlled council in the UK.
R4U’s success has been based on the desire to give local people a voice and implement long range strategic and sustainable plans for their area.
R4U also leads Saffron Walden Town Council, where under its stewardship the council has rebuilt finances, invested in community assets, and won multiple awards, including the best run council in Essex. It is a minority party on Great Dunmow Town Council.
Residents for Uttlesford can be found on the web at www.residents4u.org.