Charity will resubmit plans for cancer retreat in Broxbourne
It comes after councillors refused the plans last month
Last updated 1st Dec 2021
A Broxbourne charity with aims of building England’s first retreat for young people living with cancer has said it was met with “unprecedented” support after councillors refused the plans last month.
Teens Unite, based in Hoddesdon, currently helps over 800 young people who have been diagnosed with cancer or are in remission by providing emotional, social and physical support which goes beyond what’s offered by medical treatment.
To meet an “increasing” demand for support, the charity submitted plans for a ‘House of Teens Unite’, which would provide a unique retreat for young people to meet others who have had a similar experience and to learn new skills.
The purpose-built site in Barrow Lane, Goffs Oak, would include 20 bed spaces for young people, as well as workshop areas, relaxation and recreation spaces, and would host the charity’s social activities which are currently held at a range of venues across the south east.
Ahead of the October meeting of Broxbourne Borough Council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee, council officers had recommended the development be approved.
However, councillors decided the plans were “inappropriate within the green belt”, to the disappointment of the charity’s CEO Roxanne Lawrance who has now confirmed they won’t give up on the proposals.
According to the charity 83 per cent of young people diagnosed with cancer experience loneliness, and the retreat will allow them to meet others who have been through a similar experience.
The CEO added that despite Teens Unite supporting hundreds of young people, there aren’t any purpose built facilities to cater for their specific needs.
Ms Lawrance said:
“The House will be a space that doesn’t currently exist for young people fighting cancer in England – it will be a place where cancer isn’t the thing that makes them different, but what makes them the same.
“A place where they can spend time with others their age who understand what they’re going through, and a place where cancer doesn’t have to hold them back from still living their life in the best possible way.”
The charity is confident that being able to offer its own residential stays – rather than renting space in boarding schools – would also allow people from across the UK to benefit, as well as those living in the south east, and urged the council to see the difference the proposals would make.
She added:
“The sole purpose of the charity has always been, and will always remain, to support more young people fighting cancer.
“Building The House of Teens Unite is our route to achieving this. We want the council to feel a sense of pride and achievement in making this happen in the Borough of Broxbourne, and to support the first retreat of its kind in England.
“There’s an opportunity to make a difference to thousands of young lives – sons, daughters, brothers and sisters, but we need the council to give us the green light.”
Ms Lawrance explained the charity was shocked by the refusal because it had worked with the council for the past five years to identify a suitable piece of land for the retreat, as well as on the appropriate scale and design of the build.
The CEO said they had “already invested heavily” in the project to meet the council’s advice, and having to resubmit the application will also come at a cost for the charity, but she is determined to get the plans over the line.
It’s hoped that the retreat would allow the charity to support 3,000 young people every year, with residential stays involving everything “from yoga and meditation, to cookery, arts, beauty therapy and career development”.
The CEO also addressed concerns from three neighbours who submitted letters of objection to the council, clarifying that there would be little regular traffic going to the site, and the charity had considered how to minimise any impact on the green belt.
Ms Lawrance said:
“As the first build of its kind in England, we of course understand the concerns from neighbours, but we ask them not to see this as a typical development, but as a lifeline for those that need it.
“The environmental inspectors have studied our plans in depth and are happy with our proposals; so we hope this comes as reassurance.
“We have carefully considered the design of the build, the scale and how we can improve the biodiversity of the land and increase wildlife to the local area, as well as providing job opportunities to the local community.
“Many of the young people we support do not have access to green, open space, so it is important that we are able to provide them with this.”
She added:
“We are not developers building a large housing complex, we’re not a big corporate organisation, we’re a local charity trying to make a big difference and we really hope to have the support of the neighbours in doing so. I am always happy to speak with the local community about any questions or concerns and I welcome you to contact me personally by emailing Roxanne@teensunite.org .”
Despite the refusal, Ms Lawrance added there had been an “unprecedented amount of positive support” from the local community since the decision in October.
Since the meeting, the charity recently opened a new cafe and shop inside the old Hoddesdon Police Station, which allows Teens Unite to continue to fundraise while also sharing the work they do with more local people.
One parent, who lost their son at 25 after being diagnosed with leukaemia, has also started a petition to show their support for Teens Unite and the creation of a new retreat.
Ms Lawrance confirmed that the charity was considering an appeal of the council’s decision, but said the preferred route would be to resubmit the application for review in early 2022 and urged the council to work with the charity to best serve young people fighting cancer.
She said:
“There has been so much excitement and enthusiasm surrounding the large data centre and global film studio which are set to be developed in the Borough; and we hope that we can work collaboratively to also bring a leading care facility to this area too.”
A spokesperson for Broxbourne Borough Council said:
"The council has worked with Teens Unite to identify land that could be used to accommodate a respite facility and advised the charity in the development of a planning application for land in Halstead Hill, Goffs Oak.
"That planning application was considered by the Council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee in October.
"At the meeting, councillors were supportive of Teens Unite and their intention to deliver a respite facility within the Borough, however there were some specific concerns relating to the detail of the scheme proposed.
"It was considered that the scale of the proposal and nature of associated facilities exceeded that which could justify the use of Green Belt land, which is required to be left undeveloped except in very special circumstances.
"Additionally, there was some concern that the scale of the development was such that its delivery and ongoing operation may not be affordable by the charity, meaning that its continued use as a respite facility could not be secured.
"The council has offered assistance to the charity in developing a revised scheme which may address those specific concerns whilst still providing a respite facility and associated services within the site."