'We're being forced from our homes by giant warehouse being built too close'

The residents in Bynghams, Harlow say the Icon industrial park being built just behind their homes and off Third Avenue is making their lives hell and devaluing their homes.

They say it's affecting their health and forcing them to move homes, that it should never have been agreed and the noise is almost unbearable.

The buildings are being created by property developers Stoford and private global investment firm TPG Real Estate.

Anger - Mr Sealey

Paul Sealey, 60, said he no longer wants to live in his home of 26 years.

He said: "It's had a massive impact on our lives and that of our neighbours, you get up in the morning and all we see is a grey sky all day, it's had a terrible impact on my wife's sleepless nights.

"We're thinking about moving, the noise has been terrible and I think we probably will be moving after 26 years.

"It's making it difficult and horrible to live here, it's not nice to sit out in your garden any more. The ideal outcome would be for it to be gone completely or for us to get compensation to help towards another house."

Some families living nearby claim the 112,000 sq ft building - which will be completed shortly - has knocked up to £40,000 off the value of properties.

They have approached Tory MP Robert Halfon and councillors for help.

Imposing - The view from Mr Parker and Miss Linger's window

Couple Pauline Linger and Andrew Parker also feel forced out of their homes and say their mental health is also affected by the giant development.

Pauline, 60, said: "It's caused a lot of upset in our family and we have to keep our doors and windows shut due to the noise.

"It's been hell and they are building and working all hours from 7am to 2am at times, we've been here almost 30 years. It's been built far too close and it's not allowed.

"It blocks the sun from our garden and there's been flooding in our garden and garage while the warehouse is being built too.

"I'm looking to move house and I do think we will have to sell our home."

The angry couple say they are worried about the aftermath and noise and further disruption when the warehouse if built.

Councillor Michael Hardware, Harlow Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for strategic growth, which includes planning: “The council has listened to residents’ concerns and is in the process of investigating several complaints. My officers have confirmed, however, that residents were properly consulted when the two planning applications for the site were submitted. Of the 186 letters sent out on both occasions, only four objections were received in 2017 and one objection in 2021. No one spoke against the application at the committee when the application was considered.

“Councillor David Carter, one of the ward councillors, and I attended a public meeting earlier this month to hear the issues directly, and another is being arranged for later in September. We will both also be attending a site meeting with officers later this week.

“The council has been closely monitoring this site throughout construction. An enforcement notice was issued in June and monitoring is continuing. Any contravention of the planning consent or the conditions attached to it will be met with further enforcement action.”

“A letter was sent to all residents around the site for each application, and further than the minimum range to ensure as many households as possible were consulted. As well as letters, press notices were printed in a local newspaper and site notices were posted outside the property on Third Avenue. All this was conducted in line with legal requirements for planning consultations and this was in addition to the consultation undertaken by the developer itself, which included a local exhibition, ahead of the applications.

“The new council administration is, however, currently reviewing the way the council engages with the community generally on a range of matters including planning applications. We are looking at several additional steps to make the process more accessible and transparent, allowing residents to be able to find the information they want and participate more in the decision-making process.”

Rob Halfon Tory MP for Harlow also called for the warehouse to be torn down but fears there's not much that can be done.

He said: "This was agreed by the last council and I've visited the site and it is very worrying and I absolutely understand the misery this is causing the residents.

"It's now so far down the line and I have written to residents about this. I know the council is looking into this and it looks like it could have infringed regulations. I think the whole thing needs to be torn down. The problem is it was agreed years ago and there was a planning process.

"I will keep doing all I can and support residents."

Stoford refused to comment on the criticisms.