Council to set out plans for new housing

The district council has announced it wants to make progress on its Development Plan in 2010 - which means decisions will be taken about where houses will be built in the future to meet the demand for new homes.

Last year's 'call for sites' exercise revealed that - apart from land protected because it is part of Epping Forest - Theydon Bois is ringed by land which developers would like to develop.

The district council's draft corporate plan reveals that the Conservative Cabinet which runs the council intends to publish "options for the distribution of new housing…to meet the council's housing targets."

"I am determined that Theydon Bois should not expand beyond its existing boundaries," said Lib Dem Roland Frankel. He said: "The railway line and forest are natural boundaries. Theydon Bois must remain separate from Epping and Loughton. I am sure that the council will recognise the force of these arguments in due course."

Roland has taken a close interest in planning issues during his time on the council and sits on the District Development Control Committee and the Planning Scrutiny Panel.

"I will continue to speak up for the interests of local residents and to protect the special character of our village,"