July was a month with lots of action on the future of our village. (Or is it time we recognized it as a town that deserves the services of a small town of over 6,000 people?)

Pelham Structures have come back with a completely new style of building for the Hilton Cars site in Lower Street. Its height is lower and its bulk is less. The style is described as a traditional brick maltings – rather than the Titanic description coined by residents. It is likely that a new planning application will be considered in the autumn. Details such as car park capacity still need to be analysed. Credit is due both to residents who stood firm and said the previous scheme was unacceptable and to the developer, who has listened to criticism and made many changes.

The same cannot be said for Bellway Homes, who have submitted another housing application behind You’re Furnished to the Co-op. They’ve made minor changes to their “exclusive enclave”, but still want to undermine our commercial centre by replacing it with houses. A very useful walkabout was made in June by Uttlesford’s new economic development officer and councillors to Cambridge Road, Lower Street and the Riverside Business Park at Stoney Common. From this I hope that a master plan will emerge for a more successful centre for Stansted Mountfitchet – a thriving centre of shops, private and public services and jobs to serve a growing population. What has to be stopped is Uttlesford’s current proposal to pack the centre with more and more homes that could turn Stansted into a soulless and service-less commuter dormitory.  

So we need to agree better places for future homes than behind Cambridge Road. No site is without controversy. During July councillors will be listening to proposals for developments near Bentfield Green, east of Pines Hill and at Elms Farm. Difficult choices will have to be made in coming months.