“We have serious reservations about the viability of the proposed retail space…….major concerns about the viability of the proposed residential space……we are concerned that the proposed parking arrangements will not meet the needs of uses within the proposed building upon completion and into the future and have a serious impact on users of the existing public car park and the businesses presently served by it.”

These are the conclusions of a report commissioned by Stansted Mountfitchet Parish Council from Mark Liell & Son, Chartered Surveyors, Town Planning & Development Consultants. The report is a viability appraisal on a mixed use development in Lower Street, Stansted for a health centre, retail and residential space.

The report from Mark Liell and Sons can be read here.

The council’s committee report and map for the planning application, which is due to be considered by next Wednesday’s (17 Oct) planning committee at Uttlesford, can be read at the links.

I last posted on my blog about this topic yesterday. This new report confirms my fears about potential parking chaos and goes further to affirm that the whole scheme may as a consequence not be commercially viable.

This could have major consequences for the deliverability of a replacement health facility for Stansted Mountfitchet and surrounding towns and villages. The present surgery is well past its sell by date. But is this scheme a risk too far?