Reforming Essex: What the County’s New 100‑Day Plan Means for Epping

Aug 4
3 min read

Essex County Council has released its new 100‑Day Plan, setting out the first steps in what it calls a “new chapter for Essex.” While the document covers a wide range of services, several commitments stand out as particularly important for Epping and the surrounding district—especially when it comes to planning, development, community protection, and the future of our countryside.

For years, residents across Epping Forest District have felt the pressure of speculative development, creeping loss of green spaces, and decisions made without meaningful local input. The Epping Society has consistently argued for a planning system that protects our historic market town, respects the Green Belt, and ensures infrastructure keeps pace with growth. The County Council’s new plan touches directly on these concerns.

Standing Firm Against Local Government Reorganisation

One of the most significant announcements is Essex County Council’s firm opposition to the Government’s proposed Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). The plan would abolish the historic county structure and replace it with five large, remote authorities.

The Council argues—rightly, in our view—that such a move would weaken local democracy, dilute accountability, and make decision‑making even more distant from communities like Epping. Planning decisions are already complex and often contentious; placing them in the hands of larger, more remote bodies risks further eroding residents’ ability to influence the future of their towns and villages.

For Epping, retaining strong, locally connected governance is essential. We welcome any action that protects local representation and prevents planning powers from drifting even further away.

A Strategic Review of the Green Belt and Green Spaces

Perhaps the most important commitment for our area is the promise to instigate a Strategic Green Belt and Green Spaces Review. The plan states:

“We will reduce the pressure of speculative developments on our Green Belt and green spaces by prioritising our own brownfield development opportunities.”

This is a crucial shift. For too long, developers have targeted the Green Belt around Epping as an easy option, often citing “exceptional circumstances” that residents rightly challenge. A strategic review—if done transparently and with genuine community involvement—could help reaffirm the purpose of the Green Belt, highlight precious and productive land, and ensure future development is guided by a clear, county‑wide spatial strategy rather than piecemeal speculative proposals.

The Epping Society will watch this process closely. A review must strengthen protection, not weaken it.

Protecting the Character of Essex’s Towns and Villages

The plan acknowledges what many residents already know: satisfaction with local areas has fallen sharply over the past decade. Issues such as littering, graffiti, broken pavements, and poorly maintained public spaces all contribute to a sense of decline.

For Epping, where heritage and character are central to our identity, these concerns matter. The Council’s proposed Pride in Place Clean Up Fund could help parish and district councils improve streets, parks, signage, and war memorials. While modest, it signals a welcome recognition that the physical fabric of our communities needs attention.

A More Thoughtful Approach to Development

The plan recognises the need for new homes and upgraded infrastructure but stresses that development must be plan‑led, sensitive to local character, and focused on appropriate locations. Importantly, it states:

“We will take pressure off the Green Belt by ensuring more publicly owned land is made readily available for development.”

If implemented responsibly, this could reduce the relentless pressure on Epping’s surrounding countryside. However, the Society will continue to argue that any development—whether on public or private land—must come with the infrastructure, transport links, school places, and healthcare capacity required to support it.

Restoring Trust and Listening to Residents

A recurring theme in the 100‑Day Plan is the need to rebuild trust between residents and the Council. After years of frustration over planning decisions, delays, and opaque processes, this commitment is welcome. The Society hopes this signals a genuine shift toward listening to communities rather than imposing top‑down decisions.

What This Means for Epping

The 100‑Day Plan is only a starting point, but several commitments—protecting the Green Belt, resisting LGR, improving public spaces, and restoring trust—align closely with the priorities of Epping residents.

The Epping Society will continue to scrutinise these promises, engage constructively with the Council, and ensure that Epping’s voice is heard clearly as Essex enters this new chapter.

If Essex County Council truly intends to “put residents first,” then protecting the character, heritage, and environment of towns like Epping must remain at the heart of its reforms.

You can view the whole document by clicking https://www.essex.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-07/Reforming%20Essex%20100%20day%20plan%20-%20Essex%20County%20Council.pdf

The full document can be downloaded here