PEACE finally appears to have broken out between developers and opponents of a controversial housing development - after the two sides reached agreement over the project's final design.

Members of the Counties Estate Residents' Association (CRA) have opposed three separate applications by Telford Homes to build 24 new properties on the site of the former Chepstow House in Leicester Road Wanstead.

But the two-year battle could be about to come to an end, after the CRA reached agreement with the developer over the design of the houses it proposes to construct.

CRA member, Malcolm Dowers, of Leicester Road, said the council has now given Telford Homes the green light to submit the revised house designs as part of its most recent (third) application - and that his group would not stand in the way if they are accepted.

He said: "We have been working with Telford's to make amendments to the designs of the houses in the plan.

"Telford's did completely alter the design of the Nutter Lane flats in their third application, which was positive - but it left the design of the houses as 95 per cent of the problem from our point of view.

"If Telford's now goes ahead and submits the amended house designs that we agreed with them, then it is unlikely that we would oppose them."

If submitted by Telford Homes - the revised house designs are likely to be examined along with the rest of the third application by Redbridge's Conservation Advisory Panel (CAP) on December 17, before going before the borough's Regulatory Committee for a final decision in January.

Mr Dowers said that, if submitted, the revised house designs would be far more in keeping with the look of the surrounding Wanstead Grove conservation area than the original plans.

He said: "They've agreed to a series of minor alterations to the design of the houses which, put together, would make quite a big difference to the overall look of the development.

"We will just have to see what happens now."