This site was purchased unconditionally, when it was still an overgrown field in 2022. We engaged with locals, Ongar Neighbourhood Plan Committee for example, and listened carefully to their concerns. Our architects produced a scheme that adhered to the many local stakeholders wishes. This resulted in a unanimous vote at planning committee where every single member voted in favour of the scheme.
In addition to engaging residents, we liaised with the Ongar Millennium History Society, who shared our enthusiasm for preserving the town’s heritage. The development is named in tribute to Dr. Mary Milnthorpe—the first female GP in Ongar, and one of Essex’s longest-serving magistrates at the time of her retirement. Alongside her husband, Dr. Derek Milnthorpe, the couple dedicated decades of tireless service to the Ongar community.