Cllr Judy Emanuel - Residents for Uttlesford

14/06/2026

This week was intense! We held a planning committee on Wednesday considering applications in Stansted and Birchanger for 480 houses. Recommended for approval by the officer, we stepped through the benefits and harms associated with the schemes and drew different conclusions regarding the weights for each.

As a consequence we resolved to refuse the applications on the grounds of conflict with the local plan spatial strategy/housing need and green belt. Under new rules from govt any applications for housing schemes over 150 have to be referred to the Secretary of State so we are now waiting and hoping our reasoning is accepted.

I was particularly touched by a resident’s summary of Wednesday’s committee (enclosed).

Planning can sometimes feel like a thankless task. Decisions are rarely straightforward, there are usually strong views on all sides, and whatever outcome is reached someone will be disappointed.

What residents don’t generally see is the amount of work that committee members put in beforehand to understand the issues and test the evidence for themselves. So it was genuinely nice to read a thoughtful reflection from someone who paid such close attention – not just to the decision itself, but to the role the committee plays in scrutinising recommendations and ensuring major decisions are properly tested in public. Thank you!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DAiyucC59/?mibextid=wwXIfr

This was me outside offices earlier in the rain, after coming out of the planning meeting in which they voted on the ‘Stanhanger’ development.

I had to leave before the votes were taken on these applications, and I’d gone along because I had objected to them and was keen to see them discussed.

At this point I did not know the outcome - but a few things were going through my mind as I was standing there (aside from how heavy the rain was) - and I wanted to write about them.

Firstly, it struck me as I sat there in the council chamber that we are very lucky to live in a democracy. Sometimes we probably forget that. Members of the public were invited to speak and articulate their views and concerns. People were polite to each other. Councillors asked extremely robust questions and properly considered the arguments for and against. To me, it seemed that councillors were carefully weighing up the needs of all their constituents and giving voice to them.

There was no shoo-in or ‘already a done deal’; the debate and questions took a long time. And no matter what the outcome was, I felt grateful for that.

In the end, the committee voted unanimously to refuse the applications. And this is where I start talking about community.

Over the course of the last few months this neighbourhood and community has come together in the most incredible way. I’ve made new connections, and new friends. I’ve felt part of a team who really care about each other and the identity of where we live.

I know this decision isn’t great news for everyone and I respect other arguments. I know not everyone will agree with the outcome. But that’s not why I’m writing this.

I’m writing this because right now I’m grateful for those two things: democracy and community.

05/06/2026

Brilliant opener to the Uttlesford District Council Big Green Festival at the council offices tonight!

Inspirational speakers, a great panel session with presentations from various green groups from across the district. And Newport River Group was praised (rightfully!) to the skies!

It was fascinating and has connected lots of dots - I’ve had what I think could be a big idea about how all of the groups could deliver even more for their communities, need to think it through though so more to follow…. 🤔🤩💚

Lots more activities at the Festival, check out the calendar here: https://www.uttlesford.gov.uk/article/9990/The-Uttlesford-Big-Green-Festival

05/06/2026

Hugely proud of the hard work and improvements that have led to Uttlesford’s planning team winning these national Planning Awards!

From designation in 2022 (on the basis of decisions taken during the period from 2018-2020 - note Residents for Uttlesford - R4U took control of the council in May 2019) though de-designation in 2025 and successfully (finally) delivering the local plan this year it’s been a long and challenging journey! Since last year we have been supporting other councils via our LGA planning peer work to improve their performance.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JMnzbgZ8n/?mibextid=wwXIfr

20/05/2026

What a brilliant initiative from Uttlesford District Council! A fantastic way to support small businesses in the district.

12/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18X2zCepRo/?mibextid=wwXIfr

More than 30 events are scheduled across 10 days

11/05/2026

Post election thoughts: Enclosed a long article by a councillor in Cheltenham but worth a read - very thought provoking.

In the aftermath of the local elections last week I do find myself wondering about the shadow authority elections next year (for the new unitary authority) and what the election period might be like.

During the election period this year I posted my thoughts on the rise of Reform PLC and what they stand for. The responses, by and large, weren’t reasoned arguments by supporters in defence of the company’s policies or details of information about their plans to improve council services. Sadly the responses were more often personal attacks on me and my work.

Representing my community means so much to me and I’d be particularly reluctant to step away from planning but the degree of personal nastiness has reached a different level lately. It’s hard to see good councillors lose their seats and I worry about the outcome of the change in leadership at the County Council.

Ahead of the elections next year I need to understand much more about the structure of the new authority and increased responsibilities associated with being a UA councillor (given there will be 2 councillors to cover an area currently managed by 4) before I decide whether to stand.

Much to think about (maybe after the new neighbourhood plan’s delivered though!)

In Defence of Local Councillors. Yes, even the Reform ones.

09/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1G7DjTfzSN/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For all the noise around Reform UK’s local election performance, it is worth keeping a sense of proportion.

This graph shows total council seats across the UK as of May 2026, and Reform still represents only a very small fraction overall.

The UK has roughly 19,000 district and county councillors, alongside around 100,000 parish, town and city councillors.

Social media and rolling news can create the impression of a political earthquake, but the broader picture is a lot less dramatic than some would have you believe.

05/05/2026

Curious about a new follower - Philip Hoy - who is standing for Reform for the Stansted Division in the Essex County Council election this week.

A quick google search revealed some rather shocking views apparently expressed by Philip Hoy about climate change and race 😳

I’ve not seen the original source of the comments but they were posted 22nd April 2026 on the enclosed website by a Lib Dem member of the House of Lords: https://www.markpack.org.uk/176588/meet-some-reform-uk-local-council-candidates/

03/05/2026

This appeared in my memories today. Seven years aResidents for Uttlesford - R4U R4U — achieved a majority in the elections for Uttlesford District Council.

It made me reflect on some of what has been achieved since. None of this has been easy, particularly in the face of changing national planning policy, financial pressure and inconsistent government funding, but there has been real progress:

A new Local Plan to 2041, giving Uttlesford a much stronger plan-led basis for deciding where growth should go and what infrastructure should be secured alongside it.

A district-wide Design Code, to raise expectations for high-quality, locally responsive design across Uttlesford.

Stronger climate action, including grant-funded work to decarbonise the London Road council offices.

Investment in a dedicated Little Canfield depot for the waste and recycling service, improving operational facilities while making better commercial use of the wider site.

Better use of the London Road offices in Saffron Walden, with surplus space being let to local businesses to generate income.

Together with wider commercial income, these decisions have helped the council continue to set balanced budgets and support services despite unstable and reduced government funding.

There is always more to do, but seven years on, I think there is a lot to be proud of!

17/12/2025

Today was a pretty extraordinary day to chair Uttlesford’s planning committee. Today we approved Stansted Airport’s application to increase their passenger numbers to 51 million per annum (subject to the completion of the legal S106 agreement)

A little context - the current passenger numbers are 30 million per annum, in 2021 an application was approved (at appeal) for 43 million - that’s expected to be reached by 2034. The 51 million passengers is expected to be reached by 2041.

The investment package associated with the 2021 approval was £35 million including funding for improvements to the M11, A120, local roads and bus services. That investment will be replicated for this application - note all figures for both approvals are index linked due to the timescales. A new arrivals building was approved in 2017 and an extension to the existing building of 50% was approved 2 years ago.

The BBC and ITV were at committee filming all morning so we may be on the news tonight!