A FAMILY is in shock after arriving home from a holiday to the news that their home is being considered for redevelopment.


Madeleine Paine opened several letters from Epping Forest District Council after returning home from the holiday with her husband and 10-year-old daughter on Sunday.

Signed by the council’s Forward Planning Team, the identical letters told the couple that the house in Epping Road, Roydon, had been included as part of a consultation on where to put an estimated 10,000 new homes over the next 20 years.


“I am stunned,” said Mrs Paine. “To receive a letter like that which clearly targets your property in particular is a big shock.

“The way it came across was as if the letter was being sent out to a company about land which didn’t have any emotional importance – they’re talking about our home and garden.”

She said her daughter, who attends Roydon Primary School and has grown up in the village, and her 75-year-old mother, who lives in an annexe to the couple’s house, were distraught.

“We have also lived in Roydon and been part of its village community for the past 20 years,” said the 45-year-old. “I’ve had to try to console my 10-year-old child who thinks her home is going to be bulldozed.”


The council is hoping many of the extra homes it is looking to provide can be built on the edge of Harlow and Roydon is less than a mile from the town’s outskirts.

Mrs Paine said she was aware of the consultation and the possible future of the area, but had never put her home forward for development or been contacted personally before.

“I would like an apology for that kind of letter being sent out to an ordinary home owner,” she said. “I think it’s very insensitively written.”

Cllr Chris Whitbread, the leader of the council, offered his apologies for the letter, adding: “Unfortunately, these letters are a necessary part of the process.


“As part of the consultation, they are being sent to everyone we believe may have an ownership interest in land identified in the Call For Sites survey.

“The survey did not restrict suggestions to landowners alone. Everyone, including commercial developers had the right to submit suggestions regardless of whether or not they owned the land in question.

“These letters inform land owners that their land has been suggested and gives them the opportunity to respond.

"Just because a piece of land has been suggested as a potential area for development in the Call for Sites survey does not mean the Council agrees.

“However, we are obliged to gather evidence and consider whether suggested sites would be suitable.

“That is why the responses from residents including Mr and Mrs Paine are so important, and we are urging as many people to respond to our consultation as possible."

People can respond to the council’s Local Plan Issues and Options consultation before October 15 by visiting eppingforestdc.gov.uk.

Click here to follow the Epping Forest Guardian on Twitter

Click here to follow the Epping Forest Guardian on Facebook