ePetition details

Petition Requesting an East Hertfordshire Development Management Forum for Planning Application 3/24/1528/REM

We the undersigned petition the Council to request that East Hertfordshire District Council convenes a Development Management Forum (DMF) to consider the revised planning application 3/24/1528/REM submitted by McDonald's Restaurants Ltd and Central Co-op for the proposed Local Centre at St James Park, Bishop's Stortford.

The revised application has generated significant public interest and concern within the local community. A Development Management Forum would provide an opportunity for residents, community representatives, the applicants, planning officers and elected members to engage in an open and transparent discussion of the proposals before any planning decision is made.

Residents wish to better understand and discuss a number of matters arising from the revised application, including:

• The potential impact on traffic levels and congestion on Beaumont Avenue, St James Way and the wider Thorley area;
• The adequacy of the proposed parking provision and the implications for overspill parking and highway safety;
• The safety of pedestrians, cyclists and other road users, particularly given the mix of nursery, retail, community, gym and restaurant uses proposed on the site;
• The implications of increased vehicle movements for public safety and the efficient operation of the local highway network;
• The impact of the development on residential amenity and the local environment, including noise, air quality and litter;
• The potential effects on public health and community wellbeing, including the creation of a safe, accessible and attractive environment for residents, families and children;
• The management of anti-social behaviour and site operations, particularly during evenings and weekends;
• Whether the transport, parking and sustainability assumptions contained within the application are realistic, evidence-based and capable of being delivered in practice.

Given the scale of public interest and the significance of these issues, we believe a Development Management Forum is necessary to ensure that local residents have a meaningful opportunity to question the applicants and to assist the Council in fully understanding community concerns before determining the application.

For further information, please refer to Planning Application 3/24/1528/REM on the East Hertfordshire District Council Planning Portal.
https://publicaccess.eastherts.gov.uk/online-applications/

This ePetition runs from 02/06/2026 to 30/06/2026.

221 people have signed this ePetition.