A RECESSION-HIT developer has asked to be released from hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of community spending commitments.

Byrne Estates Ltd had signed a section 106 agreement with the district council to help provide a sports pavilion, playing fields, and other facilities at Grange Farm, Chigwell, in exchange for permission to build 32 luxury houses.

But the company has now asked Epping Forest District Council to ease many of its community commitments, deferring some payments until after construction and removing some entirely.

Among its requests is to renege on £250,000 towards affordable housing, £89,952 towards education improvements, and £10,000 towards helping to clean contaminated land.

Michael Byrne of Byrne Estates told the council’s development control committee: “We’re asking for the help of Epping Forest District Council. Hopefully with their support and many other cost-reductive exercises we’ve put in place we can continue with the development at Grange Farm.”

Many councillors voiced their disappointment at the news, but agreed something should be done, in case the whole project collapsed.

Cllr John Knapman said: “My big problem with this is trying to make some judgement call. The one thing we that don’t want is for this project to go belly up if we can possibly help it because there’s a huge community gain here.”

Councillors agreed that the information provided to them by Byrne was insufficient and asked to defer decision until they had learned more.

Committee chairman Brian Sandler said an emergency meeting should be convened within the next two weeks.

The finished plans for Grange Farm will include a pocket park, interpretation centre, and communal meadows Plans to develop the land have been in the pipeline for years to the frustration of community groups keen to use an improved facility.

Steve Trump is the manager at Jubilee Lodge, which offers respite breaks for disabled people, and is based next to the project, in Grange Farm.

He said: “It doesn’t seem to be moving that quickly, and we have had to put up with fly-tipping. it’s been a disappointment over the years.

“The whole area will be improved which will help us greatly. We have people with disabilities in wheelchairs who visit us every week so we are looking forward to using more of the meadows.”