Plans have been put forward by developer Sherrygreen Homes to demolish commercial buildings in James Yard, behind Larkshall Road, and replace them with two six-storey buildings, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter

Proposals for 46 new flats in Highams Park are set to be approved by Waltham Forest Council, though residents fear it will harm the area’s “village feel”.

Plans have been put forward by Sherrygreen Ltd to demolish commercial buildings in James Yard, behind Larkshall Road, and replace them with two six-storey towers.

The scheme will also involve new shops on the ground floor, a playspace, and parking for cars and bicycles.

The council’s planning department has recommended it for approval, but 29 residents from the surrounding streets think it should not go ahead.

Some said it would harm the “village feel” of Highams Park and would not fit with its “low-rise, suburban character”. The scheme has been opposed by members of the Highams Residents Association, who described it as “overdevelopment”.

Others said it was the wrong type of development for the area. Objectors said they would prefer to see office buildings, a ‘hot desking’ space – where remote workers can rent desks in an office – or a retirement home built on the land.

The council did acknowledge there would be a “low level of harm” to locally listed buildings, such as the millennium clock, but it was acceptable “on balance”.

Residents also criticised the plan for increasing population density, potentially impacting on public transport and , but the council says these are not concerns for the planning committee.

Though housing schemes are often controversial in the north of the borough, Waltham Forest Council is pushing for more new homes to be built there.

Its draft Local Plan, which is currently being revised, lays out the town hall’s ambition to see 27,000 more be built in the whole borough by 2035.

Based on the planning officers’ recommendations, the scheme is due to be approved by elected councillors at a meeting next week.

No news is bad news 

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts. 

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less. 

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation. 

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit 

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month.  £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.

More information on supporting us monthly or annually 

More Information about donations