Bumble Footpath - Land under threat from developers Today we launch a petition to let the council and developers know exactly what the local community think. Please sign and share. Epping at Breaking Point: Why Residents Are Demanding a Halt to Further Development Epping is a town under strain. Anyone who lives here can feel it: the GP appointments that take weeks, the roads that clog at the slightest disruption, the parking that has become a daily battle, and the creeping lo

Wates have dropped a flier on residents’ doorsteps announcing a proposed development at Mill Mound Fields, delivered on 22 May 2026 with a response deadline of 6 June — a deliberately tight two‑week window that limits meaningful public engagement. The leaflet calls the site “land South of Stonards Hill”, even though, as the document states, it is “more widely known as MMF and perhaps more correctly ‘land West of Stonards Hill’” . When a consultation begins with mislabelling

Once it is gone, it is gone forever The Epping Society is voicing its strongest opposition yet to the proposed housing development on the land south of Stonards Hill — a scheme we believe would cause irreversible harm to the character, ecology and wellbeing of our town. The developer’s glossy consultation boards may speak of “green communities” and “enhanced landscapes”, but residents know the truth: this is the last major open green buffer on the eastern side of Epping, and

Beautiful historic land under threat A planning application has been submitted for up to 80 homes on land known as “Old Pastures”, south of Stonards Hill Recreation Ground, Epping. This site sits in the Metropolitan Green Belt and has long been part of Epping’s open setting and community life. If you care about protecting Epping’s Green Belt, local character, and already-stretched roads and services, please submit an objection. Individual objections matter: they show the stre

Bumble Footpath in Epping. An area of historic natural beauty gone forever once the heavy equipment start tearing up the land. Epping is facing a crisis that can no longer be ignored. A newly released NHS assessment has confirmed what residents, campaigners and frontline staff have been saying for years: our local health services are already overstretched, under‑resourced, and physically too small to cope with the population we have today — let alone thousands more residents

Many of you will be aware that The Epping Society writes a regular article for the Epping Forest Guardian. If you missed it, here is our last one.

One this is gone, it is gone forever, Please make your views known Old Pastures update 11.5.26 The proposal to build over 80 new homes at Old Pastures in Epping threatens to disrupt the very fabric of this community. This development plan ignores the long-term consequences for residents, the environment, and the town’s infrastructure. It is not just about adding houses; it is about risking the quality of life for current and future generations. The window for objecting to thi

Mill Mound The Epping Society is encouraging local residents to submit comments regarding development proposals at Mill Mound Fields (MMFs), following Epping Forest District Council’s decision that a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is not required and amid ongoing concerns about the future of the site. The proposed scheme for up to 125 residential dwellings on land west of Stonards Hill continues to generate opposition from the Society, which warns of the potential

Epping Society Vice Chairman receiving his award from Epping Mayor Janet Whitehouse The Epping Society is pleased to share the news that our Vice Chairman, Roger Lowry, has been awarded Epping Town Council’s Townsperson of the Year. This honour recognises his longstanding commitment to the wellbeing of our town and its residents, and we are proud to see his contributions acknowledged so publicly. Roger’s service to Epping extends across many areas of community life. He is a d

(note that The Epping Society have only just become aware of this, so have not had time to organise any local event but please do go on to the CPA website for full details) Standing Up for Nature: Why Now Is the Moment for Epping to Get Active Across the country, communities are rediscovering something powerful: when people come together to celebrate, protect and enjoy their green spaces, real change becomes possible. This spring, a growing national movement is urging residen

Some members might know that the Society contributes a column to The Epping Forest Guardian roughly every six weeks, providing updates and insights into our ongoing activities and initiatives. This regular column serves as an important communication channel, allowing us to keep the community informed about our efforts and to engage with our members and the public at large. Dr Neil Hudson addresses our AGM The column in this week's edition covered our Annual General Meeting (A

**Epping Forest and the Need for Sustainable Housing Choices** The ancient woodland of Epping Forest and its surrounding semi-rural landscapes are irreplaceable assets that define the character of our district. The Epping Society believes strongly that new housing must be delivered in a truly sustainable way that respects these special qualities, rather than through blanket targets that risk permanent damage to the area’s environment and community life. A recent Sky News inve

Dr Neil Hudson MP was guest speaker at The Epping Society AGM on Thursday 12th March, 2026 Epping MP Calls for Vigilance Over Green Belt, Youth Health and Local Services Around 60 members of The Epping Society gathered on 12 March for their Annual General Meeting to hear a wide‑ranging and heartfelt address from Dr Neil Hudson , MP for Epping Forest who was this year guest speaker. The meeting was opened by Epping Society Chairman, Christine Burt , who warmly welcomed memb

The Epping Society has launched a fresh new website at www.eppingsociety.org , making it easier than ever to connect with the community, support local heritage, and get involved. Whether you want to join as a member or simply donate, the site offers a quick and simple way to do so. Membership starts from just £5 a year, opening the door for everyone to contribute to preserving the unique character of Epping. Screenshot of our 'new look' website Why The Epping Society Matters

What is wrong with the new planning rules? The Government is proposing to revise the National Framework (NPPF) (again) which is used by Local Authorities (mostly District Councils) to help plan and manage housing developments across England. They have published a new Draft NPPF which can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/697b71c52ff8d10a830d5d4a/Draft_NPPF_December_2025.pdf The Epping Society has quite a few concerns about these new rules – we think

This QR code can be used to register your objections. Alternatively details are below. The proposal to build over 80 new homes at Old Pastures in Epping threatens to disrupt the very fabric of this community. This development plan overlooks the long-term consequences for local residents, the environment, and the town’s infrastructure. It is not just about adding houses; it is about risking the quality of life for current and future generations. Impact on Local Infrastructure

The Epping Society are delighted to advise that we will be launching the 'Epping Town Trial' this Wed 4 Feb 1030am ; green outside Cuore Mat restaurant; just South of St John's church; all welcome! so please do join us. Here it is with both pages available to download at the bottom of this page as a pdf. Please feel free to download and print if needed.

Old Pastures. Historic Land up for destruction First of all we would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. As many of you will be aware yet another development is in the works and set to blight our landscape and community. We feel that Epping has be far done our bit towards any housing shortages and enough is enough. Furthermore there has not been enough scrutiny to establish vested interests among officials who are part of the decision making process. We would urge as

As the new year begins, many of us look for ways to start fresh, and enjoy the outdoors. The Epping Society offers a perfect opportunity to do all three with its annual New Year's Walk, led by Vice Chairman Roger Lowry. This event invites both members and non-members to explore the beautiful surroundings of Epping, meet new people, and celebrate the start of the year in a healthy and engaging way. Whether you are a long-time resident or new to the area, this walk promises a m

Land East of Epping – latest news, December 2025 Reminder - this is a proposed development on current Green Belt, good farmland; lying between Bower Hill, the Orchards and Stewards Green Road; generally known as Stewards Green Fields. It was not scheduled for development in the Local Plan. Shown outlined in red : 1.Not long ago, the developers Pigeon applied to Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) for an exemption from carrying out a full-scale Environmental Assessment