Plan to grow Baldwins Hill Conservation Area

Historic allotments and almshouses to be given protection?

The historic Loughton Potato Ground allotments and the Almshouses at the bottom of Stony Path are being recommended to Epping Forest District Council for inclusion in the Baldwins Hill Conservation Area.

The surprise move, advocated in 2009 in the Hills Amenity Society draft appraisal for Baldwins Hill, follows growing recent interest in developing land adjacent to the allotments accessed from Monkchester Close, seen by many as the “thin end of a wedge” to begin a case for developing the allotments.

The Conservation Officer, Maria Kitts, and Asst Director for Development Control, Nigel Richardson, supported by Cllrs Caroline Pond and Bob Jennings, are understood to be recommending the move to Cabinet when the Baldwins Hill appraisals are discussed.

Nigel Richardson, has circulated the map (labove) for information.  He said: “At this stage the appraisal has yet to be put forward for Council Cabinet approval and as such, has still to be formally adopted.”   He added that he was “reasonably confident” the Cabinet would accept it.

Welcoming the news, Diane Rhodes, plotholder of the Potato Ground and ex Trustee, said she was “absolutely delighted” with the about-turn by the Council and felt this would offer a great deal of important protection against those with thoughts of encroaching on to the site which has such great historic significance and is much valued by today’s plotholders.

Map shows proposed Baldwins Hill Conservation Area including the Potato Grounds and Almshouses at the bottom of Stony Path. Baldwins Hill runs bottom left to top centre