NEARLY 100 buildings deemed interesting and historic look set to be given extra protection from development.


The 93 sites are being put forward by Epping Forest District Council as places it wants to add to its local list, giving it more control over changes to buildings.


Chigwell station, which dates from the early 20th century, is among the buildings due to be added to the list, along with the Bank of England press works in Langston Road, Debden, and the Norwegian War Memorial in Epping Road, North Weald.

Residents’ association chairman Eddie Bow welcomed the addition of the station.


“We regard it as a distinctive feature of Chigwell,” he said. “It’s regarded as quite an architecturally interesting station.

“We would like to see the character of our area preserved.”


Other places likely to be listed by the council, include the Bank of England press in Langston Road, Debden, the Norwegian War Memorial in Epping Road, North Weald and Ye Olde Almshouses in Coppice Row, Theydon Bois.


But some buildings that were originally thought of as important look set to be struck from the list, including a number of houses in Smarts Lane, Loughton and Buckhurst Hill High Road and the former premises of a charity shop at 8 Sun Street, Waltham Abbey.

Chris Pond, chairman of the Loughton and District Historical Society, said he would be sorry to see the homes in Smarts Lane, which used to be the British School, lose their protection.

“I would very much resist taking that off the local list,” he added. “The fact that it was on the local list saved it from demolition 10 years ago.


“The British School was an early school in Loughton attended by non-conformists, for example, Baptists and it was disused since 1889.


“It was developed sensitively.”


The council says these buildings have either been pulled down or had their distinctive features removed, so they are no longer worth protecting.


It has also released details of 17 structures at risk of crumbling, including four classed as in ‘very bad’ condition.

Councillor Gary Waller, who is in charge of the project, said he would look closely at the recommendations.

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