Controversial plans for a huge industrial estate in Takeley have been unveiled.

Pigeon (Takeley) Ltd has submitted initial plans for the proposed employment development with light industrial units, strategic warehousing and distribution uses on land north of Taylors Farm, The Street, Takeley. The site is just over two miles from Stansted Airport.

If agreed, the large industrial estate would include floor space of up to 910,000 square feet, which is around 84,542 square metres.

This would work out at around the size of eight football pitches. Plans say it is likely to be made up of a number of separate buildings.

The proposals also state that once the business units are in operation, the new development has the potential to provide 1,000 new jobs for the local area. 

The plans are part of Uttlesford District Council’s Local Plan, and have sparked various concerns from parish councils, residents, Natural England and The National Trust. 

The National Trust raises concerns about Hatfield Forest, which is described as "the finest surviving example of a small medieval royal hunting forest in Europe".

It says: "The proposals could significantly increase the number of heavy goods vehicles on The Street, with associated air quality impacts on the forest and should therefore be subject to environmental impact assessment in this regard."

Little Canfield Parish Council added: "The parish council wishes to echo and mirror some existing comments and thus requests that an environmental impact assessment should include a study of the impacts of heavy goods vehicles passing the ancient buildings in The Street, Takeley, what mitigation would be required to protect Priory Wood, what mitigation would be necessary to screen the development from landscape and heritage harm, and what mitigation would be required to protect the waterway central to the site and the surface and foul water impacts that the emerging local plan identifies." 

In response to the plans, one resident said: "We strongly believe that the developer for the above should carry out an environmental impact assessment as construction will have a detrimental effect on the environment that needs to be safeguarded.

"Due to the close proximity to Hatfield Forest and Flitch Way impact zone, wildlife and ecosystems will be adversely affected by construction noise, dust, vibration, and other types of pollution.

"In addition to this, there will be chaos on B1256 due to an increase in heavy goods vehicles and traffic, increasing the likelihood of serious accidents on a narrow road with very narrow, almost non-existent footpaths in some parts"

Another added: "With the site being so close to Hatfield Forest and Flitch Way, this assessment is vital. 

"During and post-construction, there will be an unsufferable increase in noise and light pollution along with debilitating levels of dust and vibrations.

"The area already suffers from considerable noise pollution from the airport.

"The local highway network will suffer a substantial impact as a result of the increase in heavy goods vehicles accessing the site. This will be felt along the B1256 and J8 of the M11."

Susan Barker, county councillor for Great Dunmow and district councillor for High Easter and the Rodings, said: "This potential development will affect the villages of Great Hallingbury, Takeley and Little Canfield.

"There is potential for an increase in lorry movements on the B1256 as well as through Great Hallingbury, which is a narrow road with no pavements along much of its length.

"There are the issues of Hatfield Forest, the Flitch Way and Priory Wood that also need to be considered."

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Another resident added:"As you are aware, the site is close to both Hatfield Forest and The Flitch Way. The site is in the site of special scientific interest impact zone.

"There will be an increase in dust, vibration, light and noise both during and post-construction.

"There will also be a substantial impact on the local highway network as a result of the increase in heavy goods vehicles using the site, the B1256 and junction 8 of the M11."