RESIDENTS in Woodford Green are celebrating what appears to be the end of an epic three-year battle to save an historic home, after the council ruled it would be "harmful" to demolish it.

The 'cottage' building in Broomhill Walk has been the subject of SIX planning applications by developers in recent years, who all wanted to knock it down and build flats in its place.

Their latest planning permission request was turned down in July, and now neighbours have been delighted to learn of another serious blow to any plans for rebuilding work, after a conservation ruling stated that demolition of the property would damage the “character and appearance” of Woodford Green.

Residents say they have now been told by builders at the site that the developers have given up on their plans in the wake of the crushing ruling, and are to refurbish the dilapidated house instead of knocking it down.

Retired banker Nisar Rais, who lives next door to the four-bedroom house, has spearheaded the campaign to save the home.

He said: “We are of course very delighted. It has been a long time trying to get this result but we would all welcome it if the house was returned to a family home and kept in its original state.

“But before we get the champagne out we will wait to see if the home is refurbished and returned to how it was.”

The developers were unavailable for comment, but if true it marks the end of a chequered few years for the building.

The developers said they were shocked in March last year when police caught two people cultivating a cannabis factory in the supposedly empty house.

And three months later the home was nearly destroyed after a suspicious fire.

The council's conservation ruling stated that the building “make[s] a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the Woodford Green Conservation Area” and that it “would be harmful to the character and appearance of this Conservation Area” if it was demolished.