A DEVELOPER whose bid to demolish a Victorian house could leave a large swathe of Wanstead and Woodford vulnerable to town centre-style developments has accused the council of wasting taxpayers' money.

Members of the authority's regulatory committee have repeatedly rejected an application by Lee Jose to build eight flats in Bedford Road, South Woodford, on the grounds that the scheme is too dense.

But Mr Jose appealed to the planning inspectorate, which ruled that the development should be subject to the more flexible regulations which apply to built-up areas as it is close to a town centre.

This raised fears that residential, suburban streets currently protected against over-development could now be effectively urbanised.

Defiant councillors refused to budge and rejected another application in March, but Mr Jose has now appealed to the Secretary of State for Communities, Eric Pickles, and said he was almost certain it will be upheld.

"I am 98 to 100 per cent confident that this appeal will be upheld," he said.

"At the end of the day we are committed to the build and will fight all the way.

"This will end up costing the council, and inevitably the taxpayer, £20-£30,000 because when they lose they will have to pay us back for any costs incurred.

"I am sure people would like to see this money better spent elsewhere in the community."

But people living in the street said they support the committee's stance and have the support of Woodford Green MP Iain Duncan Smith.

He said: "I strongly urge this appeal to be rejected on the grounds that this development, if allowed to go ahead, would harm the local area and the quality of life of many residents around Bedford Road.

"The development would be out of keeping with the surrounding area and would put added pressure on the parking and infrastructure in South Woodford."

Roger Evans, GLA member for Redbridge and Havering is hoping the appeal is thrown out.

"Planning inspectorates tend to be quite unpredictable, so Mr Jose could be in for a bit of a shock," he said.

Councillor for Church End ward, Hugh Cleaver said: "It would be unfair for councillors to make decisions on planning applications if they lived by the fear of having to pay back developers for any costs incurred."

People have until June 12 to make a comment on the appeal, with an announcement due in July.

People living in Bedford Road opposed to the demolition of a Victorian house for flats are supported by Iain Duncan Smith MP

CAMPAIGNER CALLS ON SECRETARY OF STATE TO RECOGNISE LOCAL OPINION

THE man who first raised concerns that guidelines designed to protect the character of Wanstead and Woodford could be rendered obsolete said he hopes the Secretary of State will recognise the strength of opposition to the plans.

Tom Jennings, of Bedford Road, said: "There is still a very strong opinion that we are asking for the planning guidelines to be adhered to because so far the planning guidelines have never been adhered to.

"There appears to be a creep on the town centre boundary and if this gets approved where will it end?

"Throughout the political framework of our country there is this view that it is wrong.

"I am not against the property being developed if planning guidelines are adhered to.

"This is a ridiculous situation. If I had made a bad business decision and made some losses, would I go looking to recoup money from the council for my own mistakes?

"He will keep pushing this until he gets his money back."