A HOUSING association has won an appeal allowing it to build 33 flats, 12 houses, offices and three shops in Highams Park.

Residents were overjoyed back in March when Waltham Forest Council turned down a planning application by the Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association (ISHA) to construct the development in Larkshall Road.

But the Government's Planning Inspectorate has now ruled the council was wrong to refuse permission.

It means the ISHA can now go ahead and start work on the development.

The group appealed against the rejection of two of its plans for the site, with Government inspector Brendan Lyons upholding the council's decision on the first, larger plan.

But he said that the second plan: "would for the most part successfully address the concerns of the council [about the density of the site].

"Any harm caused by the few under-sized gardens would be outweighed by the benefits of development".

The ISHA has also launched a legal bid for the council to pay its costs for the appeal.

A decision on that will be made at a later hearing.

More to follow.

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