PROPOSALS to demolish a bungalow to make way for a three-storey block of houses have united virtualy a whole street out in anger.
Developer Darren Hunt's plans to knock down 15 The Crescent, Loughton, to replace it with two conjoined semi-detached houses have seen 106 letters of objection sent to the district council.
Neighbour Marco Costantino said: “It's going to be right in front of my window. With my daughter's bedroom she won't even be able to open the window because she's facing the house.
“This will set a precedent. There are several bungalows here and, with the space in their gardens, everyone's just going to put down two houses. We will turn into a high-density area like Walthamstow.
“We are in need of bungalows. There are a lot of old people here and they can't stay in a three-storey house.”
Protester Robert Martin said: “I'm right bang opposite. This will break the skyline- it will be so huge compared to what's been here previously. To have this kind of high-density housing is totally out of the question. It doesn't fit with the area. With the entire history of The Crescent, and I've been here on and off 35 years, never has this sort of development taken place. It mustn't happen.”
Gee Chung, of Greensted Road, Loughton, was visiting a friend in The Crescent.
She said: “It'll look out of place- two narrow houses in one small plot. Then there's the parking for a start. People have more than one car and they'll be parking in the road. If they have visitors they'll bring cars. Where will they park their cars?”
Despite residents' concerns, council officers have recommended approval of the application which has received no objection from the town council and one letter of support.
Darren Hunt's agent Alistair Allan said: “The planning officers seem to be very happy with the proposal. It doesn't fall down on any planning criteria, and replaces a rather tired bungalow on the site.”
He added: “At the moment there's no parking at all. This plan has four parking places and tidies up the street. It will be a very comfortable place to live, efficient and a house which will last a long time.”
The plans are due to be decided next Wednesday (October 7) at Epping Forest District Council's planning sub-committee meeting at Roding Valley High School.
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