A ROW of rare 'arts and crafts' style houses are among a number of historic Wanstead buildings earmarked for extra planning protection.

The Victorian cottages, in Nutter Lane, Wanstead, have been picked out by council officers because of the lack of major alterations made to them since they were first built.

The Guardian has learned that the homes are being considered for Article Four protection, which would mean their owners having to apply for planning consent to make even relatively minor alterations, such as replacing windows.

Other parts of the new Wanstead Grove conservation area - such as Grosvenor Road - have also been earmarked to receive the extra protection, which was recently applied to most of Spratt Hall Road.

Grosvenor Road, for example, contains some of Redbridge's largest Victorian townhouses, most of which have remained relatively unchanged.

Local campaigners want the protection brought in to cover the whole of the conservation area, but council officers said many of its buildings have been altered too much for this to be justified.

The Wanstead Society has also asked the council to consider granting Article Four protection to Fitzgerald Road, Church Path and several other streets close to Christchurch Green.