Council approves schemes put forward by council-owned Qualis Group
Epping Forest council has granted permission to plans for 269 homes by its wholly-owned development company, Qualis.
The permissions, on a raft of urban sites, also include plans for a long-debated £25m leisure centre and multi-storey car park in the area.
The plans envisage 184 homes on a former school site in St John’s Road, of which 46 will be affordable, with a further 45 homes on the site of the vacant Conder building close to the council’s civic offices.
The construction of the new leisure centre on Bakers Lane will ultimately allow the council’s existing leisure centre at Hemnall Street to be redeveloped into a further 40 new homes.
The residential schemes will include electric vehicle charging for all parking spaces, and contribute £2.5m in planning gain for education, healthcare and other community benefits.
The plans have been submitted by Qualis Commercial, part of the Qualis Group, set up last year by the council to drive its regeneration ambitions.
Simon Rutter, managing director of Qualis Commercial, said: “The approvals mark an important step and early milestone in delivering the aspirations of Qualis that has been formed to drive regeneration across the district, creating jobs, economic growth and better public amenities’’.
Chris Whitbread, leader of Epping Forest District Council, said the council’s regeneration plan were now “on the verge of reality.”
“Our younger residents who are driven from Epping by the high price of property have been crying out for starter homes. All the new developments will be at the cutting edge of sustainable energy use, making Epping an even more green and attractive place to work and live.”
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