PLANS to almost double the size of a private hospital have horrified residents of a quiet residential road.

Holly House Hospital, in Buckhurst Hill High Road, has submitted plans to expand on to the old London ambulance site, in Knighton Lane, with a new operating theatre, more than fifteen new bedrooms and up to eight new outpatient consulting rooms planned.

Residents in Knighton Lane have condemned the plans, which many of them have only just found out about following a district council admin cock-up.

Buckhurst Hill Residents Society chairman Tony Oliva said: “It went through the parish council with no objections. I mentioned it at our AGM and some people said they hadn’t heard anything about it. Epping Forest District Council forgot to consult anyone on Knighton Lane.

“It will have a huge impact for car parking. It’s a substantial expansion of the hospital with lots of consulting rooms and bedrooms. Parking is a problem already and it’s possible staff will use the new access in Knighton Lane. It’s a quiet lane that’s now become a freeway. It’s utterly wrong.”

Buckhurst Hill Parish Council has now re-examined the plans and filed an objection.

Colin Smith, 60, who lives in Duchess Grove, just off Knighton Lane, has headed a local campaign to oppose the expansion.

He said: ”I think it’s a massive overdevelopment of the site. Knighton Lane is a narrow residential road of domestic dwellings. This is like setting up a massive B&Q.

“It’s horrendous. It doubles the area of the hospital and there will be a large increase in staff. It’s totally out of keeping with the area.”

Holly House has said it had already held a consultation night with nearby residents which had proved very successful.

Business development and marketing manager Karen Hewitt said: “We were able to alleviate the majority of the concerns on the night, such as parking and disruption during development, and are taking steps to address individual issues before finalising the architects’ drawings.”

Residents have until Monday, May 25, to send comments to Epping Forest District Council at the Civic Offices, in Epping.

A comment from the district council is expected today (Monday)