NERVOUS members of Redbridge's largest Anglican church are awaiting with bated breath for the council to decide whether or not to approve their decades-old dream for "vital" redevelopment works.

The congregation at All Saint's Church in Inmans Row, Woodford Wells, have been planning and fund-raising for years for improvement works such as a new linking structure between its hall and main building, but were stunned back in June when councillors rejected the bid - despite the scheme being given the thumbs up by council officers.

Since then, the church has resubmitted its £3 million plans, which also include a new annex, and councillors will once more make a decision at a regulatory committee meeting next Tuesday (September 29).

Rev Paul Harcourt said he was expecting the decision to go in their favour this time, after his church provided more details on how the development would fit in with the delicate historical surroundings of the Grade II listed building.

He said: “We are very hopeful. We've had nearly 400 letters of support and the planning officers have recommended it is approved again, as have the conservation officers. There's a lot of community interest and a lot of members will be attended the meeting next week.

“But the difference this time is we've been able to address conservation concerns in more detail.

“The original decision was quite a surprise. We expected that when you have the planning officers recommending something it usually is approved.

“The bottom line about this is that the scheme will provide huge community benefit and it has a huge amount of support in the community. It has been developed in negotiation over a long time with the council's own conservation advice.

“There isn't a single historic building that hasn't been developed in some way, buildings evolve. The church as it is has gone through four or five phases of building works already.”