Local MP and Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, has urged the Planning Inspectorate and Uttlesford District Council to take decisive and swift action against the unauthorised airport car park operating at New Farm.
The case is currently with the Planning Inspectorate, where a decision is not expected before the end of 2026. Ms Badenoch has been working closely with Councillor Ray Gooding to pressure Uttlesford District Council to use every available power to prevent further expansion. She has also written to the Planning Inspectorate, urging it to prioritise the appeal.
Ms Badenoch has also written to the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook MP, calling for action and highlighting how the planning system can work against people who follow the rules, while rogue developers are allowed to run rampant and disrupt communities.
That is why, in Opposition, Conservatives have proposed stronger enforcement powers, tougher restrictions on retrospective applications and meaningful penalties for deliberate breaches. By repealing the Human Rights Act and leaving the ECHR, a future Conservative government would speed up planning decisions, curb repeated legal challenges and ensure that domestic planning priorities cannot be overridden by international legal frameworks.
Commenting, Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP said:
"It is completely unacceptable that the Planning Inspectorate has had this case for months yet failed to reach a decision. Meanwhile, residents are being forced to endure increased traffic and endless disruption.
“This case demonstrates exactly why the planning system needs reform. I have proposed stronger enforcement powers, tougher restrictions on retrospective applications and meaningful penalties for deliberate breaches. I will continue standing with Elsenham until this matter is resolved. The principle is simple: people who follow the rules should not be treated like fools, and those who ignore them should not be rewarded."
