THE rundown and overgrown Grange Farm site is set to be transformed into the district's most exclusive and expensive housing development.

The area will become Chigwell Grange' a development of 32 five, six and seven-bedroom detached houses.

The houses on the gated development off Chigwell High Road site are expected, at current market values, to fetch between £2m and £4m each.

Developer Byrne Estates has gained planning permission to develop the nine-acre site with the properties, ranging between 4,000sq.ft and 6,000sq.ft, surrounded by a new country park.

David Farries, development director for Byrne Estates, said: "There has been a lack of good quality modern homes in Chigwell and the surrounding area and we hope to fill that gap with this stylish development.

"The scheme represents a significant investment into the local community and we're confident the combination of the excellent location mixed with ingenious architecture will attract plenty of interest."

The site has been at the centre of various planning battles in recent years but now that planning permission has been granted, the area will be transformed.

Work on the first nine houses is expected to start next month and it is anticipated that the first homes will be occupied early next year.