Why Stansted's Boundaries Matter
Stansted Mountfitchet is a historic medieval village with a distinct identity, not a suburb of Bishop's Stortford or an airport dormitory. Our village has grown sustainably over centuries - this mega-development threatens to destroy that balance overnight.
Historic Medieval Village
From our Norman castle to our market square, Stansted has been an independent medieval village for nearly 1,000 years. We're not just another commuter suburb - we're a living, working community with our own identity.
Airport Pressures
We already cope with Stansted Airport's impact - traffic, noise (57dB contour), and parking overspill. Adding 300 homes without addressing existing problems compounds the chaos. The site falls within airport noise impact zones making it unsuitable for residential development.
Transport Hub Strain
Our railway station and roads are vital transport links already operating at capacity. The M11, B1383, and local roads cannot handle thousands more vehicles without major upgrades.
Infrastructure Already at Breaking Point
City & Country promises 50% affordable housing, school expansion land, and infrastructure improvements. But the reality for Stansted residents tells a different story:
- Schools Crisis: Forest Hall School is already oversubscribed with no sixth form. Where will 741 new residents (including ~185 school-age children) go to school? The developer offers land for expansion - but who funds the actual buildings, teachers, and equipment? Land alone doesn't create school places.
- Medical Emergency: Lower Street Surgery and Church Road Surgery struggle with current demand. Adding 741 more patients (~185 households) without committed GP practice funding is a recipe for healthcare collapse. Where's the Section 106 agreement guaranteeing a new surgery?
- Traffic Nightmare: Grove Hill, Cambridge Road, B1383, and Church Road already gridlock at peak times. Add 738 daily car trips from this development on top of airport traffic - total paralysis. Highway mitigation is listed as "contribution via s106" - how much, when, and is it legally binding before occupation?
- Parking Chaos: Our village center and station already suffer from airport parking overspill. Add 445 more cars with inadequate on-site parking and residents will park on streets designed for a medieval village.
- Loss of Village Identity: Stansted would become a continuous urban sprawl with Bishop's Stortford - two distinct historic places merged into one, destroying our market village character.
- Retail & Services Overload: Lower Street shops, banks, and services can't absorb 741 more customers while years of construction traffic and roadworks block access and destroy trade.
- Public Transport Failure: Bus route 308 runs hourly Mon-Sat only, last bus 6:30pm, NO Sunday service. This fails NPPF sustainability tests but the developer has no commitment to improve frequency or extend hours.
Stansted-Specific Threats
B1383 Corridor Collapse
The main road through the village already struggles with airport traffic, HGVs, and commuters. Adding 738 daily car trips from 300 homes (plus the 442 from Birchanger = 1,180 total) would turn it into a permanent traffic jam, splitting our community in two. Developer promises vague "s106 contributions" but no concrete highway capacity upgrades are funded or legally secured.
Loss of Green Gap - NPPF Para 155 Test FAILS
The fields between Stansted and Bishop's Stortford are all that stops us being absorbed into a larger town. This land STRONGLY serves Green Belt purposes (preventing coalescence, safeguarding countryside character). Developer claims "grey belt" status under NPPF Para 155 - but that requires the land to NOT strongly serve Green Belt purposes. This test fails immediately.
Education Black Hole
With no new secondary school planned and primaries full, families would face impossible school runs to distant towns, adding more traffic and destroying family life. 300 homes = ~185 school-age children. Forest Hall is already oversubscribed. Developer offers land for expansion - but who pays for buildings, teachers, equipment? Where's the legally binding Section 106 agreement requiring this BEFORE occupation?
Station Overcrowding
Stansted Mountfitchet station already struggles with commuter demand. Platform extensions and parking are needed now - adding ~741 more users (from 300 homes) without funded upgrades is madness. Site is 2.1km from station with NO continuous footway - fails DfT 800m walkability standard for sustainable development.
No Local Jobs - Unsustainable Location
This is purely dormitory housing. With no employment planned, every new resident becomes another commuter, adding to road and rail congestion. NPPF Para 155 requires "sustainable location" - but car-dependent housing 2.1km from the station with hourly bus service (last bus 6:30pm, no Sundays) FAILS this test. This is not sustainable development.
Emergency Services Strain
Fire, police, and ambulance services are already stretched. Response times would worsen with 741 more residents but no additional emergency service provision secured via Section 106. Who pays for extra fire engines, police officers, ambulances? Where's the committed funding?
Our Village's Assets Under Threat
Historic Medieval Village
The heart of our medieval village would be overwhelmed by thousands of new residents. Our local shops and cafes would lose their community feel.
Green Boundaries
The fields that separate us from Bishop's Stortford and Birchanger define us as an independent village, not a suburb. This land must be protected.
Recreation Spaces
Our playing fields, recreation grounds, and sports facilities are already well-used. They cannot accommodate a doubled population.
Stansted Residents Speak Out
"As a Stansted resident who lives virtually opposite one of the fields. The increased traffic will make it near impossible to get in and out of our drive (it's difficult enough as it is!). The road is not wide enough and then when it's school start and finish time, well!! The only secondary school in the village does not have a sixth form. Stortford schools are already over subscribed. My daughter has to travel all the way to Saffron Walden for sixth form. Where are more children going to go to school?"
- Caroline
"My daughter didn't get into Forest Hall despite living in Stansted. We're driving to Bishop's Stortford daily for school. Where will thousands of new children go? The education system is already broken."
- Rachel, parent of three
"I commute to London daily. The trains are already packed, the station car park full by 7am. Adding more commuters without improving services? It's insane."
- David, commuter
How Stansted Residents Can Fight Back
As a village, we have political weight and organizational strength. Use it:
Infrastructure Focus
Object based on concrete infrastructure failures - schools, GP surgeries, roads. Developers can't ignore hard facts about capacity.
Lobby Village Council
Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council needs to see overwhelming opposition. Attend meetings, write to councillors.
Business Opposition
Get Lower Street businesses involved. They'll be badly affected and their voices carry weight with planners.
School Campaigns
Engage parent groups at all schools. Education crisis is our strongest argument against development.
Commuter Power
Organize station users. Document overcrowding, delays. Network Rail must hear from angry commuters.
Data Collection
Document current problems - traffic jams, GP wait times, school rejections. Evidence defeats developer propaganda.
Stansted Campaign Resources
📋 Key Arguments
Focus your objections on:
- NPPF Para 155 "grey belt" test FAILS - land strongly serves Green Belt purposes (prevents coalescence with Bishop's Stortford)
- Unsustainable location - 2.1km from station, no continuous footway, fails DfT 800m walkability standard, bus 308 hourly only
- "Golden Rules" undeliverable - where's the legally binding Section 106 agreement for school buildings, GP surgery, highway upgrades?
- Secondary school capacity crisis - Forest Hall oversubscribed, no sixth form, 185 new children with no plan
- GP surgery waiting lists - Lower Street and Church Road surgeries already overwhelmed, no new practice funded
- B1383 traffic collapse - 738 daily car trips on top of airport traffic, no funded highway capacity upgrades
- Station overcrowding statistics - 741 more users with no platform/parking improvements
- Loss of market village identity - coalescence with Bishop's Stortford destroys independent village status
📅 Important Meetings
Don't miss these:
- 📍 Village Council: 2nd Thursday monthly
- 📍 Planning Committee: Check website
- 📍 Public Consultation: TBC
- 📍 Campaign HQ: Day Centre, Tuesdays 7pm
🤝 Key Contacts
Important allies:
- Village Council offices
- Forest Hall School PTA
- Lower Street Business Association
- Station Users Group
- Stansted Surgery Patient Group
Contact the Birchanger & Stansted Green Belt Preservation Group
admin@saveourvillages.co.uk
For Stansted residents and village-specific issues.
📞 Phone
07368 501136
Call us to discuss concerns and find out how you can help.
🏛️ Village Council
Via council offices
Official village response coordination.