What Were They Thinking? Epping High Road Eyesore nears completion.

Eastern Europe Design In Epping

A major part of The Epping Society's mission is to help protect our environment from the worst excesses of developer and council ambitions. Sometimes we are successful. Recently we successful in saving the historic Redwood Tree in Tidy's Lane. In the more distant past the Society played a major part in the creation of the M25 Bell Common Tunnel.

We are sad to report that we were not so successful in persuading Council & Developers in relation to the new buildings and estates being created as part of the Town Plan.

This is not through lack of trying. We simply have not been listened too and much of the negative impact of poorly thought out design and infrastructure is in the process of being inflicted on our town and we will keep our followers and members up to date throughout.

Today we are reporting on the new flats on the High Road (Verdant Place adjacent to Hawthorn Dental Services. See Picture).

As these near completion, it can be seen what a thoroughly poor design has been bequeathed to our historic market town. Almost nothing about them is seemingly designed to be sympathetic. The shape, the massing, the detail, the colour – all inappropriate.

When this project was submitted to EFDC the Epping Society raised a number of objections – one of which was design. Our concerns were echoed by many individuals and bodies such as the Town Council. We described the images as looking like something from the Eastern European brutalist age.

Now as the flats near completion, and the scaffolding and covers are stripped away, we can see the awfulness that has been inflicted upon us. Our fears are realised in brick and concrete.

EFDC have a range of policies and guidelines about the design and architecture of developments. However these seem to have been ignored by Qualis (the Council’s wholly-owned subsidiary, responsible for the constructions), and by EFDC themselves.

These structures are up, and we must learn to live with them. But the Epping Society would urge all parties involved in future projects to make far greater efforts to achieve sympathetic results and to listen to local people.

Quite frankly the design is a disgrace and we have to wonder what world all those involved in the design and approval process inhabit in thinking this is anywhere near appropriate for Epping.

If you have not done so please consider signing our ongoing petition to prevent further development on our greenbelt outside the local plan. It takes less than a minute and really helps. Click the link below.

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If you would like to support or work please consider joining the Epping Society and you will be the first to be kelp informed. Membership costs from only £5 a year. Thank you.

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