Thousands say 'NO' to tower block at The Mall, Walthamstow, on petition handed to Waltham Forest council

Campaigners last week handed a petition to Waltham Forest council, signed by more than 2,000 people, in protest against proposals for a 27-storey tower block at the Mall shopping centre site.

Capital & Regional, which owns the shopping centre, plans to build the block as part of a “town square” redevelopment.

However, critics say the tower will overshadow other homes in the area and community green space will be lost as a result of the scheme.

Concerns have also been raised over the affordability of apartments in the block, once they are put up for sale.

Petition organiser, Jean Duggleby, from campaign group Save Walthamstow’s Town Centre, said: “Most people I have spoken to did not know anything about the plans.

“When we have been telling people what is going to happen, there has not been a single person who did not want to sign the petition against it.

An artists' impression of the proposed development

“The green space in this area is very well used- there are people in flats nearby who used it, people sit down there after they have been shopping.

“We understand that people need housing, but they need to do it in a much sensitively than in this development.”

Capital & Regional says it plans to invest more than £120 million to build new restaurants, shops and gardens at the site, as well as up to 500 homes.

The firm also claimed it will invest up to £3 million in play facilities and what it describes as “events space” for community use.

Under current proposals, as many as four apartment blocks could be built on the site, ranging in height between 12 and 27 storeys.

A series of public events were held by developers in April to unveil plans.

Developers are hoping to submit a formal planning application to Waltham Forest council this autumn.

If planning permission is granted, work could start on the development as early as spring 2017, with completion of the project scheduled for 2019.