A DISUSED dairy could be converted into 68 homes under plans being drawn up by one of the country’s largest property developers.

Taylor Wimpey is consulting Redbridge Council over its plans for the Dairycrest depot site in Chigwell Road, South Woodford.

Last week it sent letters to residents and business owners living near the old dairy outlining its plans for the homes, a quarter of which would be sold at below-market rates.

A spokesman for the developer said: “The scheme has been designed to respect the exisiting properties adjacent to the site, with the scale and height of the proposed buildings being similar to the existing dwellings.”

The derelict site has a troubled recent history, and on Monday night (August 29), fire-fighters were called to a blaze at the buildings, which took more than two hours to bring under control.

Part of the first floor and most of the roof of the abandoned offices attached to the dairy were damaged, while surrounding roads were closed to traffic before the fire was put out shortly after 10pm.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated, but police believe it may have been started deliberately.

In December 2010 people living nearby complained that the dairy was being used by travellers after six caravans moved on to the site.

At the time, residents said they were worried about bonfires which were being lit on the plot, but the travellers moved on shortly afterwards.

Melvyn Marks of the Roding Conservatives group has been contacted by several residents who have received letters about the scheme.

He said: “Any improvement is no doubt welcome, but will it turn out like the Queen Mary Gate site with more flats than originally proposed?”.

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