Clothing and home retailer Next has launched an appeal against a council’s decision to refuse permission for a distribution centre and multi storey car park.
The company is proposing a warehouse on land north of Dowding Way in Waltham Abbey but saw plans rejected by Epping Forest District Council in June 2021.
The distribution centre scheme also comes with a "state-of-the-art" photo studio and a multi-storey car park and bridge link.
Among the reasons for refusal were claims the plans would impact the green belt, and that the A121 would struggle to accommodate the 1,000 extra lorry movements likely to be generated, according to the council’s planning website.
But Next has lodged an appeal, reducing the size of the scheme to 57,267 metres squared, according to the statement.
The statement says the revised version of the plans responds to comments from the council and the community.
It also argues the site was proposed for the district council’s local plan in 2017 for employment land, and that it was also planned to be removed from the green belt.
The planning statement also claims the scheme would create 436 full time operational jobs, and an average 70 construction jobs per month over a 19-month construction period.
It also says Next would work with local schools to offer work placements, and CV writing and mock-interview sessions.
A decision on the appeal is likely to be due later this year. The appeal can be found on the planning inspectorate website via reference APP/J1535/W/21/3289760.
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