A Better Solution.
If you attended either of our meetings in January/February 2020, you would have heard our team explain that we were not expecting the situation at the Hamptons to be resolved quickly. This has proved to be correct, and the rather odd behaviour of the Chelmsford Mulim Society and the Covid pandemic has made a simple issue much more complicated.
PLanning applications
Having researched in detail the evidence relating to the plans of the Chelmsford Muslim Society, we are convinced that the Hamptons has been purchased to create a huge mosque and Islamic centre in Great Baddow, providing facilities for a large part of Essex.
Should they submit their rather silly plans that claim that only a single multifaith room is their intention, we would oppose and can present a strong case for refusal.
If they suddenly decide to come clean and submit a proper plan for a mosque and Islamic Centre, we would oppose and can present a strong case for refusal. The timescale for either of these two application options would be 2-3 months, depending on what additional reports the council deem necessary.
If Chelmsford Muslim Society submit either planning application option and lose, they could appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, which would take another 6 months, and they would probably still lose. Their last option would be a Judicial Review in the High Court at a cost of £100k. Realistically this situation could take a further year to resolve.
So where will that leave the Chelmsford Muslim Society who have huge debts and redundancy payments to cover ? With the current Covid status enforcing the closure of sports and leisure centres, they have very little income coming in, and there is no prospect of that improving quickly. They risk losing their whole investment and still have to pay off their Islamic loans !
The Solution.
The better option is for Chelmsford City Council to step in and offer to buy the Hamptons, and provide a plot of land for the CMS to build an Islamic Centre in a better location away from residential properties, with more parking and a better road network.
Currently the Chelmsford area is underprovisioned with sports and leisure facilities and needing more going forward, with new developments going up in West Chelmsford, North of Broomfield and North of South Woodham ferrers.. Funding wise, the council has a large pot of gold in the Community Infrastructure Levy account (raised from levys on new developments) and from S106 payments (from developers to mediate planning issues). Details of the CIL can be found here.
The purchase of the Hamptons by Chelmsford City Council and a land swap would:
Restore the Hamptons to full community use.
Provide additional sports and leisure facilities for Chelmsford
Create employment at the leisure centre.
Create construction employment at the new mosque and Islamic centre site.
Provide additional community space at the new Islamic Centre
Clear the debts of the Chelmsford Muslim Society leaving them in a better position to move forward.
Solve a complex situation in a timely manner.
Is financially viable.
A Possible Site ?
In 2018 the Chelmsford Muslim Society were in discussion with the council about the purchase of land at 279 Beehive Lane to build a mosque and Islamic centre. The council pulled the plug on that deal, leaving the CMS angry and let down (and rightly so).
That land is still vacant and derelict, and a recent planning application for an alternative use has attracted a number of objections, notably from the Parish Council and the Highway Authorities.
Even though it is classed as Metropolitan Green Belt, a single building placed at the rear, with some landscaping and car parking would be likely to be approved. It has far better road access and only a few residential properties nearby.
