£11,000
TOTAL RAISED SO FAR
How to object:
Register on EDFC planning portal - being registered means you can submit your objection.
Find the application under reference EPF/1608/26.
Read the points of interest.
Pick two or three that matter most to you and write comments in your own words.
Ensure you include your postal address in the comments.
BY POST
Write down your objection.
Don’t forget to include:
the specific planning application reference number (EPF/1608/26)
your full name
your postal address
Send to:
Development Control
Epping Forest District Council
Civic Offices
323 High Street
Epping CM16 4BZ
or post your letter to the Village Hall Post Box by Monday 12th October and we will hand deliver those letters to Epping Forest District Council before the deadline.
Donate! We are over the halfway mark! But we need more to be able to fund experts and challenge the developers' application. Having funds now is absolutely crucial as the time to object the application is short and limited funds will allow us only limited expert support. Every single pound raised goes directly toward funding the expert planning and legal advice we need to stop this. Our initial goal is £15,000, giving us the resources to present a watertight, expert-backed case to protect our village.
Share! Tell your neighbours why this campaign matters and ask them to donate. Share on you social media.
Help! Let us know, if you could help.
What else could I do now:
ACT NOW OR OUR VILLAGE WILL CHANGE FOREVER
Where are we now:
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
EFDC determined that the proposed development did not require an EIA
the Secretary of State confirmed that the EIA screening decision will be reviewed, decision is expected by 17 November
If the Secretary of State directs that this is EIA development, Dandara would have to prepare a full Environmental Statement before permission could lawfully be granted (a process that typically adds months)
planning application
EFDC has registered the application under reference EPF/1608/26
anyone can comment by 13 October
250 HOUSES BEHIND ST PETER’S CHURCH...
A developer, Dandara, plans to build 250 new homes on Temple Farm — directly behind St Peter’s Church and the historic core of Roydon. They intend to submit a planning application within weeks. We believe it would cause irreversible harm to Roydon as a historic village, and threaten our community’s safety, green spaces and roads.
Proposed size:
Source: Strategic Masterplan Framework, planning application EPF/1608/26
Why this matters:
250 additional homes
33% increase in village population
300-400 more cars
Gridlock and increased pollution
Loss of essential farmland
Loss of village character
Loss of local wildlife and biodiversity
Increased pressure on local services and utilities
Heightened flood risk
years of disruption from the construction and thousands of lorries
Actions taken by RHA:
-
The Secretary of State confirmed that the application would be considered and that a decision is expected by 17 November 2026.
-
Richard Buxton Solicitors submitted an application to the Secretary of State requesting that the EIA screening decision be reviewed.
-
Flyers designed, printed and distributed.
-
EFDC approved Dandara’s request and determined that the proposed development did not require an Environmental Impact Assessment.
Following this decision, Richard Buxton Solicitors were instructed to request that the Secretary of State (SoS) review the screening decision and make their own determination. -
James Bailey Planning Consultants prepared a report, and Richard Buxton Solicitors prepared a supporting letter, opposing Dandara’s EIA Screening Request. These were submitted to EFDC.
-
Bank account, webpage and crowdfunding for RHA had been set up.
-
The Roydon Heritage Association (RHA) was formally constituted as a Community Interest Company (CIC).
Richard Buxton Solicitors were instructed to act on behalf of the RHA in opposing the proposed Temple Farm development.James Bailey Planning Consultants were also instructed to provide planning advice and support in opposing the application.
-
Dandara submitted a request to Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Opinion in relation to the proposed Temple Farm development.
-
Dandara held a drop-in event regarding the proposed development at Temple Farm.
About RHA
Roydon Heritage Alliance (RHA) is an independent, resident-led group formed to protect the heritage, character, environment and infrastructure of our historic village.
The Alliance was established in response to the proposed large-scale development at Temple Farm and exists to ensure Roydon has a strong, informed and properly represented voice.
We are bringing together residents and professional planning, legal and specialist expertise to scrutinise the proposals and challenge inappropriate development.
You can help by supporting the campaign, spreading the word and donating towards the professional expertise needed to protect Roydon’s future.
One village. One united voice. A future worth protecting.
Frequently asked questions:
-
This campaign is a community-led effort to protect Roydon's heritage by instructing independent experts to scrutinise and challenge the developer’s applications.
Noone in the working group is being paid — we are just deeply concerned about the future of Roydon and the future of our community, so we decided to invest our time into this fight.
Unfortunately the passion itself won’t be enough to stop the development. The developer has resources to pay experts who will help them to get the planning permission. We need our experts, surveys, reports on all the aspects of the application (heritage, traffic, environment etc.) to be able to challange them.
That is why we need to fundraise.
-
Richard Buxton Solicitors were instructed to act on behalf of the RHA in opposing the proposed Temple Farm development.
James Bailey Planning Consultants were also instructed to provide planning advice and support in opposing the application.
We are also using relevant independent expert support where needed.
-
The planning application has been validated by EFDC. Deadline on comments is 13 October.
The Secretary of State has accepted our request to review the council’s decision that this scheme needs no full environmental assessment. If the review goes our way, Dandara must produce a full Environmental Statement before permission could lawfully be granted. A decision is expected by 17 November 2026.
-
-
Donate. We need sufficient funds to have a fighting chance.
Share. Spread the word, why you support this campaign and ask others to donate. Start with your neighbours. Share on social media or in your Whatsapp groups and encourage people to donate.
Object. Register to EFDC planning portal and comment when the application is validated.
STAND WITH US
〰️
DONATE TODAY
〰️
STAND WITH US 〰️ DONATE TODAY 〰️
£11,000
TOTAL RAISED SO FAR
We’re raising funds to instruct independent experts to scrutinise and challenge the developer’s applications. Donate and help our community take its best possible chance of winning.
You can also make a bank transfer:
ROYDON HERITAGE ALLIANCE
Account Number: 58301388
Sort Code: 23-05-80
Roydon Heritage Alliance is a non-profit community group formed by local Roydon residents. All funds raised are held in a dedicated community account and strictly audited for professional planning & legal fees.