About EFDC
Epping Forest District Council in the county of Essex is named after Epping Forest, a large part of which can be found within our district.
The district offers the best of town and country living, being 45 minutes from the City of London and Epping Forest, the Lee Valley Park and the Olympic White Water Centre on our doorstep. There is a decent range of schools, both state and independent, and Stansted Airport is just up the road, serving a range of destinations across the world.
EFDC has a reputation for affluence. Unemployment is generally low and many residents enjoy a very high standard of living. There are excellent communication links, including a good road network via the M11 and M25 motorways and London Underground’s Central Line to Epping. Roydon is on the mainline service into London Liverpool Street and other mainline national rail services are available nearby in Harlow, Sawbridgeworth and Waltham Cross.
More than 80% of the district’s housing is in private ownership and levels of demand have contributed to high prices and a lack of affordable housing. Balancing the needs of an increasing population against the protection and conservation of the district’s rural character presents a major challenge.
It is an area of great contrasts, stretching northwards from its southern boundary with Greater London, right to the heart of rural Essex. Much of the 131 square miles of the Epping Forest District is green and rural. 94% is within the Green Belt or in use for horticulture and farming, which is reflected in the rich mix of commerce from farming and horticulture to the latest high tech industries.
Approximately half of our 123,900 residents live in 5% of the area of the district, close to the boundary with London. Most of the rest of the population live in a mixture of market towns, villages and rural hamlets, each with their own identity and personality. The local population is set to grow over the coming years and pressure for development and the demand for homes, jobs and leisure facilities has never been greater.
Epping Forest District Council seeks to punch above its weight through active involvement directly and through the Local Strategic Partnership in regional development organisations such as the London Anglia Growth Partnership and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership. In partnership with local business we also signed up to the Epping Forest Business Charter, committing itself to the support of the local economy.
We are a major employer with almost 700 staff working directly or through contracted services. Our operation is based in the main Civic Offices in the leafy market town of Epping. We also operate depots, sports and leisure centres, housing schemes and hostels across the district. As well as landlord to around 6,500 tenants, we also rent out shops and business units from our trading estates. Our Museum, based in a Tudor merchant’s house near historic Waltham Abbey, forms the base for many of our arts and community development projects and we even own a Battle of Britain Airfield!
