Your Epping Forest

Delivering our plan

An action plan is in place to deliver this Corporate Plan over the next 18 months to end of March 2026, progress will be monitored by our Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

We deliver a vast range of services. We also work in partnerships for joined up services. Our list of partners is constantly growing and evolving.

The plan covers the full range of the council’s responsibilities:

• Housing and Communities
• Environment and Regulation
• Finance, Governance, People, and Corporate Services
• Planning
• Strategic Growth and Regeneration

---

Public sector partners

Essex County Council is responsible for providing other services in our district, including education, adult social care, libraries, and highways.

Central government plays a key role in the regulation of what we do. It also provides significant funding for local projects and services.

Other significant partners include:

• Braintree District Council and Colchester City Council
• Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)
• Environment Agency
• Epping Forest District (EFD) Museum Trust
• Essex County Council
• Essex County Fire and Rescue
• Essex Police
• Homes England
• Lea Valley Regional Park
• National Health Services, in association with The West Essex Integrated Care Board
• NEPP (North Essex Parking Partnership)
• North Essex Councils
• Police Fire and Crime Commissioner
• The Corporation of London
• The DIZ (Digital Innovation Zone)
• The Innovation Corridor – linking London and Cambridge
• Town and Parish councils

We represent the interests of our community further afield too. We talk with neighbouring London Boroughs, the Mayor of London, Transport for London, and many other organisations outside our district.

---

Voluntary sector partners

The voluntary sector makes a vital contribution to our community. Local organisations are coordinated and supported by Voluntary Action Epping Forest. The development of council supported community hubs combines the expertise of the council with other government organisations such as DWP, and voluntary organisations such as Epping Forest Food Bank and
Citizens Advice.

---

Commercial partners

We work with commercial partners to deliver many of our services.

Major contractors include:

• Qualis – a group of private companies created by and wholly-owned by the council
• Places Leisure – leisure centres and swimming pools
• Terra Verde Services (TVS) – waste and recycling services (from November 2024)

Qualis Group

Qualis is one of our most significant innovations. As the sole ‘shareholder’ of Qualis, it gives Epping Forest District Council a competitive edge and access to private sector knowledge.

Qualis will deliver major developments in Epping, Waltham Abbey and across other strategic sites.

It is maintaining the Council’s housing for more than 6,000 tenants and their families. Qualis is making commercial property investments to provide further long-term income returns to the Council. Money earned supports public services.

Places Leisure

Places Leisure manages all the district’s leisure centres on behalf of the council. Work is progressing for the exciting development of the new Epping Leisure Centre. The centre will be in Bakers Lane, it will replace the existing Epping Sports Centre in Hemnall Street, and form one part of a wider development project for the town.

Epping Leisure Centre will become the newest and most energy efficient in the district, supporting the council’s aim to become carbon neutral by 2030. As well as air-sourced heat pumps and digital technology, the centre will incorporate the highest levels of insulation into construction, keeping future energy bills and carbon emissions as low as possible.

Epping Leisure Centre facilities will include:

• A main swimming pool
• A learner swimming pool
• Sports hall
• Health and fitness gym
• Studios

Epping Leisure Centre is being delivered by Epping Forest District Council in partnership with Places Leisure. Pellikaan Construction Ltd is carrying out the construction work.

Terra Verde Services Ltd (TVS Ltd)

Terra Verde Services Ltd (TVS Ltd) is a newly created Local Authority Trading Company (LATCo), that will deliver two key environmental services, recycling and waste collections and street cleansing, to residents of Epping Forest District Council from 4 November 2024.

TVS Ltd has a clear set of objectives that are set out as follows:

• High quality services to the residents of EFDC
• To deliver value for money services including the return or reinvestment of financial surplus into improving the services
• To ensure that EFDC’s statutory obligations are fulfilled

Other commercial partnerships

We also support services and keep Council Tax low through commercial partnerships at North Weald Airfield, Epping Forest Shopping Park, industrial estates, and retail units. We have innovated beyond traditional income. Regus (office lettings) on the top floor of the Civic Offices has created another income stream.

We will continue to develop income from assets such as North Weald Airfield (Masterplan), to support front-line services and keep Council Tax low.

Harlow and Gilston Garden Town (HGGT)

Partnerships cross boundaries. Epping Forest District Council is working hard with other councils to meet the demand for new housing. 16,000 sustainable new homes are planned across Harlow and Gilston Garden Town (HGGT) by 2033, of which 3,900 are proposed in the Epping Forest council area.

HGGT comprises:

• East Herts District Council
• Epping Forest District Council
• Essex County Council
• Harlow District Council
• Hertfordshire County Council

People need more than houses. HGGT is building sustainable communities. Transport, employment, schools, and health services are all factored in. Infrastructure will include everything from water and electricity to broadband for environmentally friendly communities.

---