A number of parties are interested in purchasing the land to the east of Halstead high street.

The green space is historically significant with its rare group of 16 Second World War air raid shelters and links to the Courtauld’s textile empire, and the woodland is an important habitat for many birds and animals.

There has been much local opposition to the site being developed and several residents formed the Halstead 21st Century Group to protect the air raid shelters from future development.