A VILLAGE near Harlow is being “pummelled” by planning decisions, a council meeting has heard. A decision on whether the Epping Forest District Council planning committee should give permission to build 65 homes on a garden centre in Thornwood, has been deferred until more information is made available on the access road reports the Local Democracy Reporter.

An outline planning application has been submitted for the former Happy Grow Nursery site for the demotion of existing buildings followed by residential development of up to 65 new homes. The potential development adds further pressure on the area where residents have been left feeling frustrated with the amount of building.

There has been concern around access onto the B1393 and the potential of reducing the speed limit to 30mph. Councillors have agreed to defer the decision until more information is provided by Essex Highways.

The council also heard general concerns about the scale of development in the village. Included in recent permisions are Gs8’s flagship Carpenters Yard scheme of 113 homes. Weston Homes have permission for 62 homes in Thornwood Park.

Councillor Tom Bromwich said: “I do want to speak on behalf of the residents who are quite frankly a bit cheesed off and feeling the full force of development pressure in this village. This has no reflection on the developers who I have understood have been thorough in their consultation with residents and the parish council. I must say I’ve not been approached by anyone regarding this project, but I do know that in the most part it has been proactive, which is always positive.

Thornwood today has about 400 homes but with this scheme and the others already approved on this stretch of road the number is set to double in the space of a few years. He added: “Residents feel that their village is being asked to shoulder more than its fair and proportionate share.

“I know this site personally. It was once a pet shop. I remember buying my first two pet gerbils from there. But looking at it now, and with it already having been carved into the Epping Forest local plan, the direction of travel is clear.

“This land has been allocated for housing, I can’t change that, nor will I be naive to encourage any of you to ignore that reality. However much in practice I feel Thornwood is being pummelled by top-down decisions that will fundamentally and irreversibly change it.”

Planning committee member Councillor Tim Matthews said more information is needed from Highways before a clear decision is made on the garden centre application He said: “Obviously, the comments that have been made have all been concerned regarding the access road, safety around the access road, width of the access road.

“So I think you know we can’t make a fair judgment here this evening without having all that knowledge at hand.”