Councillors approved a developer’s bid to build 46 flats in Chingford’s Friars Close, amid opposition from residents who are concerned about traffic congestion, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter
Plans for nearly 50 new flats in Waltham Forest have been approved, amid local concern they will worsen traffic congestion.
Newlon Housing Trust has been given permission to demolish a former NHS building in Chingford and build 46 apartments in its place.
The new homes – spread across two five- and six-storey buildings – will be available as part of the ‘affordable housing’ scheme.
Half will be ‘intermediate housing,’ available to rent or buy at a cost above social rent but below market value. The rest will be leased as ‘affordable rent’ homes, available for up to 80% of the private rate.
The London Plan, which guides planning across the 32 boroughs, says plans for ten homes or more should be 10% affordable.
The development was approved by Waltham Forest’s planning committee at a meeting last night (3rd September), by four votes to one.
Vice chairman Sebastian Salek said it was “unusual” for all homes in a development to be deemed ‘affordable’ and said it could ease the current ten-year wait for homes.
But serious concerns were raised by residents and ward councillors that the provision of just two disabled parking spaces was not enough.
Conservative group leader Emma Best said: “It’s clear to me that anyone who thinks this is a good idea has never been to this area and seen the chaos that is happening on a daily basis.”
She added the Old Church Surgery, in Friars Close, was “in constant use”. She said residents had “arguments every day with people parked over their driveway”.
A resident of nearby Eton Close said he “struggled to see” how it was feasible.
He said: “It’s good to have affordable housing, but this is a dramatic increase at the end of our road.
“Where are people who have cars going to park? We already struggle with people getting to doctors’ appointments.”
However, planning officers described the proposals, which were submitted in 2022, as “very well designed” and said the “benefits would outweigh any concerns”.
Despite the objections, they said there was “nothing about the location that would make us take exception”.
They also described the area as “well served by buses and public transport.”
Towards the end of the meeting, councillor Jenny Gray dismissed the parking concerns and said the committee should “not lose sight” of the need for housing.
The former chairwoman said: “I don’t think people on the housing list, living in cramped accommodation, will say they won’t move because they can’t have a car.
“We can’t turn down 46 units of affordable housing because there isn’t a controlled parking zone.
“There’s a precedent for car-free developments all over London.”
Newlon Housing Trust manages more than 8,400 ‘affordable homes’ across north and east London.
It was established in 1968 by members of the New London Synagogue to buy homes that could be leased out at “affordable rates by members of the local community in need of decent homes”.
The trust has overseen developments in Islington, Haringey, and Hackney.
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