A £500k working capital loan to develop a new leisure facility and retail park has been approved by the district council’s Cabinet.

Epping Forest District Councillors agreed to endorse plans to take forward five key development sites on St John’s Road, Epping throughout 2020.

Plans include a 25m swimming pool, gym and sports hall, a cinema, a 2,500 square foot retail park, a residential area of up to 70 apartments and a public realm area.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Chris Whitbread shared his reaction to the latest developments.

Epping Forest Guardian:

Concept art was released showing what the restaurant may look like on St. John's Road, Epping

He said: “This is an exciting project and it’s important that we take them in and around as the whole of Epping.

“It’s not just for people from Epping that use Epping Sports Centre it includes Theydon Bois, surrounding villages and other surrounding areas as well.

“This is going to be an important improvement into leisure facilities locally. Our revenue streams will grow for the future, protecting frontline services.”

Cllr Whitbread also reassured councillors that Epping Leisure Centre would remain should the planning applications be passed for the proposed facilities.

Epping Forest Guardian:

An artist's impression of what the cinema may look like on St John's Road, Epping

The St John’s Road site currently listed for development includes a former school, Epping Hall and the district council housing works depot.

Cabinet also noted that these proposed sites and full business cases (to be presented at March Cabinet) achieve a minimum value to EFDC of 6 per cent return on investment (in the form of land and loans) per annum.

Councillors also supported proposals to bring forward the transferral of land ownership to Qualis, the council’s wholly owned development company.

Should a full business case fail to be operationally and financially viable, any land owned by Qualis would be transferred back to the Council.