PERMISSION has been granted for a large housing estate on an industrial area destroyed by fire.
Hadley Homes had a previous proposal turned down by the council due to the low proportion of affordable homes, but it successfully appealed to the planning inspectorate.
However, the government intervened to block the development, saying it agreed with the council's original decision.
The site was then badly damaged by fire last year and Hadley Homes resubmitted a scaled down plan for 344 homes in blocks up to five storeys high, which was considered by the council's planning committee last Thursday.
Tory members again questioned the lack of affordable housing, which amounts to just 15 per cent of the development and is far less than the 50 per cent guideline.
Cllr Alan Siggers said: "This is an appalling scheme, it's a serious overdevelopment and it won't benefit us at all."
But Labour member Jenny Gray stated it was not possible for developers to provide more affordable housing due to a cut to government funding.
Hadley homes representative Alastair Crowdey said: "We have fundamentally addressed all the points of concern that were raised by the council last time.
"Now we have a robust planning case and we’re happy to say it’s in line with the National Planning Policy Framework."
"The density has dropped and is in line with local guidelines and the number of homes has been reduced by 40 per cent. The flats are now five storeys at most, rather than six."
All four Labour members voted in favour of the scheme and it was approved.
Earlier in the evening a plan to turn Walthamstow Stadium's car park into a bus depot was approved, despite 100 objections.
Some felt the depot, which will operate between 4.30am and 2am, will be disruptive, cause pollution and create parking problems.
But the bus operator said 270 new jobs will be created at the site in Chingford Road, Chingford, with a training centre for taking in 100 people a year.
Cllr Northover suggested a deferment of the application, pending the outcome of Boris Johnson's decision on the future of the stadium after the housing scheme was approved last week.
But Labour members voted against and the scheme was approved.
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