FEARS are mounting that plans for 10 flats on the site of one house could change the face of a main road, ahead of a hearing into the application.

Developer JTS of Brentwood has applied to build the two and three-bedroom flats in Chigwell High Road, near the Underground station, on behalf of owners Gillian and Laurence Earl.

Their plans were turned down by the district council after objections flooded in, but they are hoping to get the go-ahead at a hearing chaired by a government planning inspector on January 19.

The chairman of planning on Chigwell Parish Council, Richard Alvin, said the council had about 40 letters from residents against various applications at the site and would speak out against the plans at the hearing.

“The main concern is that a number of the property owners along the High Road will look at their house value and say 'if we knocked our house down and created 10 flats, it would be worth more',” he said. “It may start a domino effect.”

He added that some places in Chigwell, like the Bald Hind, which will be converted into 14 flats, were suitable for development, but this was not one of them.

"They are all very large, opulent houses along that stretch of the High Road and knocking one down for a very tall, very wide building would be inappropriate," he said.

Neighbours have raised similar concerns about the traffic and the precedent the plans could set for the road.

High Road resident Roy Garner said: “It sets a precedent. I might as well say to the man next door – 'you pull your place down and I'll pull mine down.' They could all be flats.

“Where do you end with this?”

Mrs Earl has pointed out that flats at her property would not be as tightly packed-in as similar developments.

Neighbours can attend the hearing, which will take place at 10am on January 19 at the district council's Epping High Street offices, and may be allowed to give evidence to the inspector.