The council approved plans to knock down two homes in Larkswood Road and replace them with three new ones despite 22 residents lodging objections, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter

An illustration showing how the planned homes will look like, Credit: Omni Architecture

Three new homes in Waltham Forest have been approved – despite overwhelming objections from neighbours.

Plans to knock down two houses in Chingford and build three new ones in their place were green-lit by Waltham Forest Council’s planning committee last night (6th May).

The three-bedroom homes would be designed for six people, replacing a 1930s-style bungalow and two-storey home in the old Larkswood Road. The new houses would also sit behind a newly installed gate.

The plans also include new bin areas and parking spaces.

A total of 22 residents living nearby formally objected to the scheme, expressing concerns about noise and a loss of privacy.

They also raised issues with potential overdevelopment of the area, arguing that more residents in the area would mean a greater strain on parking and amenities.

Officers from the council’s planning department responded to residents’ concerns in a lengthy planning document, which was published last week.

The net increase of one home was not considered to have a “significant impact” on either street parking or local utilities.

The council said instead the three homes would “make efficient use of existing developed residential land to provide a good standard of residential accommodation for future occupiers”.

The town hall’s highways department, which oversees roads and transport in the borough, also did not object to the scheme. However, it did ask the developers to contribute £3,000 towards sustainable transport in the local area.

Additionally, people should be able to keep their privacy as the new homes are between 31m and 50m away from the pre-existing residences, the council said.

Other locals criticised the three-home scheme for not including any ‘affordable’ housing.

Affordable housing covers several types of leases and mortgages that are aimed at households on low to moderate incomes who would struggle to afford the regular market price.

Despite the social benefits, developers are only required to include ‘affordable’ homes in estates of ten or more, under the London Plan.

The planning committee – composed of elected Conservative and Labour councillors – rarely rejects schemes for new housing, amid a borough-wide shortage of homes.

Last month, councillors approved plans for a new student tower in Leyton and an extra nine flats on top of a block in Walthamstow.

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