The past year has, in part, been one of waiting, with concern, for the publication of Braintree’s and Babergh’s New Local Development Plans. Each Council has had to radically revise its house building requirements to meet Government’s demand for a very large increase in new houses. Braintree alone has to provide for around 862 new houses to be built every year until 2031. As a result it has had to withdraw its previous draft Local Plan (then well advanced) and start the consultation processes all over again. Braintree has decided to promote the building of one or more new large scale garden communities (10,000 plus houses), with all modern infrastructure and facilities, and thereby protect the rural villages. You will be aware of the proposed sites for 17,000 plus houses at West Tey and/or 10,000 plus houses at Andrews Airfield, West of Braintree. Although late in the day, there has recently been yet another proposal for at least 5,000 (up to 15,000) houses around Pattiswick, which would ruin this lovely rural part of North Essex. It is still unclear when Braintree will reach a final decision on these sites to go forward into the Development Plan. CAUSE is spearheading the opposition to the West Tey and Monks Wood proposals and has achieved some initial success in its opposition to the West Tey proposal. Anyone interested in more information should access its website at: www.cause4livingessex.com. The latest Government White Paper reinforces its resolve to ensure a quantum leap in the number of new builds.