Following extensive public consultation with Epping Forest residents, businesses, local Councillors and interested organisations, Qualis Commercial has submitted planning applications for its Bakers Lane Car Park and Cottis Lane sites.  Feedback and comments have been taken into consideration throughout the consultation, with the evolution of the two schemes clearly demonstrating that the local community has influenced the final submitted designs.  Proposals for the Bakers Lane Car Park site show a new leisure facility incorporating a six lane pool, gymnasium, studios, a new sports hall and squash courts and a first floor public viewing gallery. The scheme has been designed to ensure no residential neighbours have loss of amenity and a comprehensive landscaping strategy is included to create high quality public and private spaces. This will be a true community facility, not just a leisure centre but an asset to serve numerous uses in the town, a place for people to exercise and also meet and socialise.  A new car park to service the high street with no net loss of spaces is proposed at the Cottis Lane site, providing priority spaces placed at ‘street level’ and all spaces will have the potential for electric vehicle charging. Cinema, retail and offices are also included in the final configuration but Qualis Commercial is committed to a phased approach to development to ensure that any new commercial activity is appropriate and complements the High Street as well as promoting and encouraging travel by environmentally friendly methods. The vision is that Cottis Lane will form the ‘Yard’, a flexible hub for new and creative business that can connect into the town and use the new courtyard spaces to showcase their work and engage with the community. There will be space for events which will enliven the town, along with a new south facing public square and amenity space, new public toilets, cycle storage and public realm connecting to Bakers Lane and the High Street.  The company’s vision is to develop schemes of high quality in design and material which are sustainable, flexible and serve the best interests of the community.  Both proposals have been designed to reflect and consider the architecture and space of existing buildings, local character and the history of the town, breathing new life into the roads and streets beyond the High Street. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1608638166/projects/workingtogetherforepping/50a4be4b-8202-4b2e-9c41-57fcc01e4bc6.jpg" /><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1608638114/projects/workingtogetherforepping/d4efd87f-c131-40c4-bb08-e74e1b54a9e2.jpg" />

Qualis Commercial submits planning applications for Bakers Lane Car Park and Cottis Lane sites

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Residents of Epping Forest District Council have until Friday 13th November to have their say on Qualis Commercial’s exciting plans for its five sites in Epping Town Centre.  The online consultation platform  <a href="https://workingtogetherforepping.commonplace.is">https://workingtogetherforepping.commonplace.is</a>  will remain open until 13th November for people to view and comment on the revised proposals. After this date, there is still the opportunity to send in questions via info@qualiscommercial.co.uk until 20th November.  <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1604929202/projects/workingtogetherforepping/2e5364f0-c26b-4666-9358-fa90f4fea316.jpg" />The second round of public consultation was widely attended last week via five online webinars, due to Covid restrictions, with the public being able to ask questions directly to the team about the individual proposals. Recordings of each webinar are available to view on the consultation platform.  The public consultation to date has been extremely comprehensive and covered a range of ages and demographics and provided extremely useful feedback.

Epping residents have until Friday 13th November to ‘have their say’ on Consultation Platform

If you would like to join the EFDC online Development Management Forum we ask that you please respond to implementationteam@eppingforestdc.gov.uk so that EDFC has an idea of numbers.Many thanks<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1604239631/projects/workingtogetherforepping/b7f65b91-67eb-4ee9-a6c9-06338d982dc2.jpg" />

Join the EFDC Development Management Forum on the  12th November from 6pm

We are here to listen to your ideas and make sure your views are heard.

Working Together for Epping 

Comment on Epping Forest District as a place to work and develop a business in all sectors.

Economy & Enterprise

Epping town centre benefits from a range of businesses as well as public services to provide job opportunities for residents. We want to support a positive, developing culture of business growth and opportunities. Therefore, the Qualis proposals will be designed to integrate with the existing town centre and complement the independent and national businesses. The draft Local Plan’s vision for Epping is that it will continue to thrive as one of the main centres in the District, providing excellent community facilities, services and transport connectivity. The settlement will continue to benefit from a strong range of existing facilities and social infrastructure.Epping will continue to have a mix of independent and national retailers. New commercial and employment uses will be encouraged where they support local business and start-up enterprises in order to ensure that the town retains a strong employment base.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_1024/v1593466240/projects/workingtogetherforeppingproposals/512e333d-fe27-4077-a1aa-5ad9edb0206b.jpg" />To ensure you are always up to date, make sure you opt in to be alerted when new information is shown. <a href="https://workingtogetherforepping.commonplace.is/news">Click here to register for updates as soon as they are available.</a>

Have your say on the interactive map. Let us know how you feel about the area and what you think could be improved.

Interactive map

Click the &#39;Have your say&#39; button and let us know your thoughts.
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Additional materials

Comment on Epping Forest's community facilities, engagement and your thoughts on social value.

Communities & Social Value

We are committed to developing cohesive, happy communities that support each other and provide social value to enrich the District.The vision for the five sites seeks to deliver new community facilities and services into the town by providing mixed use development to potentially include leisure, retail, community facilities, hospitality and employment uses as well as a replacement leisure/sports centre. This will help reinforce the centre’s role in the district and building and enhance community spirit and social values for future generations.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_1024/v1593468143/projects/workingtogetherforeppingproposals/42a46b21-ce2a-4499-8e19-49b306aa7205.jpg" />To ensure you are always up to date with further suggestions/proposals about communities and social value, make sure you opt in to be alerted when new information is shown. <a href="https://workingtogetherforepping.commonplace.is/news">Click here to register for updates as soon as they are available.</a>

Comment on what the heritage and culture mean to you.

Heritage & Culture

Epping town centre has a rich and vibrant history reflected in its many fine buildings and streetscapes. The architectural and historic interest of many of the pre-20th century buildings within the Town have resulted in their Listing and the area either side of the High Street from Crows Road in the south up to and including Lindsey Street in the north is included within a Conservation Area.Epping Forest contains the remains of two Iron Age forts as well as buildings that tell of Royal patronage during Tudor times. There are of course links to more modern times when Victorian development challenged the forest itself and local people rose up and ensured it was protected for all to continue to enjoy today.The draft Local Plan’s vision for Epping is for the existing character of this historic market town will be protected, and heritage assets will be enhanced wherever possible.Qualis intends to preserve the special architectural or historic interest of heritage assets (Locally Listed Buildings) through their retention, sensitive conversion and refurbishment and preserves and enhance the setting of the Epping Conservation Area and Listed Buildings. We also expect to deliver integrated architecture and placemaking using high quality specification and material palettes which reflect and take cues from the local setting and vernacular.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_1024/v1593466025/projects/workingtogetherforeppingproposals/041d9b4c-7d7b-4dd3-9504-2682982a1113.jpg" />To ensure you are always up to date with proposals in Epping, make sure you opt in to be alerted when new information is shown. <a href="https://workingtogetherforepping.commonplace.is/news">Click here to register for updates as soon as they are available.</a>

Comment on Epping Forest's transport and the look of our streets.

Infrastructure & the Environment

Qualis are committed to making Epping better for everyone and our District is currently seeing some potential exciting changes, including new places to shop and eat, new housing, leisure facilities and more modern, greener streets.We need to make sure people find it as easy as possible to travel to and from Epping. It&#39;s important that getting around town is enjoyable and safe for our residents, and for those working or visiting the District.The draft Local Plan’s vision is for linkages to Epping’s surrounding landscape and highly performing Green Belt to be maximised, and housing will be located and designed in a manner that limits the potential for harm to this important asset. It also expects that public open space, footpaths and linkages across the town will be improved. New connections will be delivered between the town’s existing open spaces and planned development.Qualis intend to embrace this vision and the Qualis proposals expect to provide enhanced links to the wider landscape and links to Epping Forest and long-distance trails. The use of previously developed land for the development of houses ensures that no landscape will be lost as the result of the developments. Qualis are also considering the approach to public realm in the town.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_1024/v1593467534/projects/workingtogetherforeppingproposals/cccd96c5-2e1e-4368-8907-91f24413db14.jpg" />To ensure you are always up to date with further suggestions/proposals for the District make sure you opt in to be alerted when new information is shown. <a href="https://workingtogetherforepping.commonplace.is/news">Click here to register for updates as soon as they are available.</a>

Comment on the health and community facilities and the organisations and services that help you to remain happy and healthy.

Health & Wellbeing

To make a lasting improvement to health and wellbeing in Epping we must tackle the causes of ill-health rather than the symptoms. Positive characteristics and qualities of the environment can promote healthier lifestyles, support preventing poor health and encourage inclusivity and accessibility whilst reducing health inequalities.We also recognise the huge role played by a wide range of voluntary and faith organisations in supporting those most in need. These organisations are invaluable in supporting young people, older people and other sections of the community.Qualis will ensure that adequate levels of healthcare services continue to be provided for the new development and community as a whole.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_1024/v1593465425/projects/workingtogetherforeppingproposals/0ee622b7-c64e-4d60-93ad-be1e5da819dd.jpg" />To ensure you are always up to date with further information, make sure you opt in to be alerted when new information is shown. <a href="https://workingtogetherforepping.commonplace.is/news">Click here to register for updates as soon as they are available.</a>

Learn more about our Vision and have your say.

Vision

The Qualis Commercial objectives for the five sites are as follows• To develop in an economically sustainable manner with a social objective, and to create vibrant and healthy communities which protect and enhance our natural, built and historic environment• To do everything within our power to ensure schemes will be carbon neutral by 2030, in line with the Council’s declaration of a Climate EmergencyWe will unlock potential to create inspiring places and spaces designed for the 21st Century, where the character and heritage of a locality is enhanced, with carefully curated public realm and sustainability.We will positively shape the community by investing, building, maintaining and renewing the places where we work, live and play.We will embody our values of being enthusiastic, collaborative and forward thinking and protect and enhance the things we all value the most;As part of its commitment to bring improved housing, economic growth and public amenities to the Epping Forest District, Qualis Commercial is consulting upon the future regeneration of five sites in Epping that have been identified in the Local Plan. Share with us your thoughts and questions.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_1024/v1592826340/projects/workingtogetherforeppingproposals/d790133b-5925-41c2-9032-73def1b2d77a.png" />We will continue to provide updates and publish information - ensure to <a href="https://workingtogetherforepping.commonplace.is/news">opt into &#39;project updates&#39;.</a>

Public Consultation Exhibition Boards - September 2020

Let us know how you use Epping and what you feel could be improved in the town.

Let us know how you use Epping High Street and how it could be improved

Town Centre Strategy - draft for consultation

AS PART OF THE PLANNING PROCESS WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO CONSIDER HOW THE PUBLIC REALM OF EPPING TOWN MAY DEVELOP OVER TIME.THE STRATEGY AND FRAMEWORK DOCUMENTS ON THIS SITE HAVE BEEN PREPARED AS DRAFTS FOR CONSULTATION ONLY AND IN RESPONSE TO THIS REQUEST AND ARE NOT EFDC POLICY. THEY ARE INTENDED TO STIMULATE DISCUSSION AND DEBATE TO ALLOW QUALIS TO REFINE OUR PROPOSALS IN MORE DETAIL AND WHICH WILL FORM PART OF THE NEXT PLANNED CONSULTATION EVENT.