Word has just come through that the planning appeal for homes west of Pennington Lane, Stansted has been DISMISSED. Well done to all who protested against the outrageous proposal to breach Stansted Mountfitchet’s western boundary and to invade the Stort Valley. Read the Inspector’s report here.

I want to express my sincere thanks to Gail and Jamie Hogg, Simon Thompson, Liz Lake, Peter Jones and all the other workers and supporters of the Save Stansted Village campaign team for their unstinting dedication and professionalism in fighting this opportunistic attempt to encroach on the Stort Valley and even in future to put the Metropolitan Green Belt at risk.

The district council, parish council, community groups and individual residents worked together, backed by sound, logical arguments and they were proved right. Well done, everyone!

As I said at the appeal hearing in July: “I see Bloor Homes’ appeal proposal as a Trojan Horse of strategic significance that must be dismissed if Stansted Mountfitchet is to retain its distinctiveness and separate existence from its larger, southern neighbour in Hertfordshire”.