A community action group has claimed a victory in a fight against Transport for London (TfL) over controversial plans for a new car park on green belt land.
The Theydon Bois Action Group (TBAG) and TfL have been involved in a bitter row over plans for a new 80-space car park, which would be built on land to the east of the village Underground station.
TfL had been accused of acting “undemocratically” after trying to develop the car park without full planning permission from Epping Forest District Council, which would include full consultation of authorities and members of the public.
Following legal action from TBAG, full planning permission will now be needed for the car park to be built.
Yesterday (August 5), chairman Dr John Warren said: “Theydon Bois Action Group is delighted with the outcome of our successful legal action against Epping Forest District Council which has forced Transport for London to put in a full planning application if they wish to develop this important green belt site as a car park.
“TfL has previously indicated that they wish to develop the existing car park which is brownfield land.”
Opponents to the new car park, including Theydon Bois Parish Council, have raised a number of issues with plans including concerns that access from the 60mph Abridge Road on to Station Hill could be dangerous and lead to serious injuries or deaths if plans go ahead without a full transport assessment.
On Friday (July 31), TBAG were informed that a judicial review brought by Dr Warren had successfully ended.
A TBAG statement said: “TfL will not develop the site without being granted full planning permission.
“This will enable TBAG, other local interest groups and all Theydon Bois residents to be consulted on any future development proposal and for those consultees to consider and make comment… [this] would have been denied to villagers and could not have been taken into account if our successful legal challenge had not been mounted.”
TfL will also have to pay court costs to the district council and TBAG.
The council and TfL have been contacted for comment.
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