Flats Frenzy

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 31st Mar 2006

More and more sites in Epping are coming under pressure from developers seeking to build blocks of flats - sometimes involving the demolition of existing houses.

This reflects the high demand for housing in our areas, combined with the fact that the council very rarely allows new housing to be built in the Green Belt.

The area at the bottom of Bower Hill has been particularly affected, with planning applications submitted for flats at the corner of Bower Hill and Allnutts Road and in Brook Road by the railway bridge.

It's not long since a new block of flats was built on the corner of Station Road and Hemnall Street and a new block of flats behind the Thatched House in Hemnall Street is nearing completion.

There have also been recent planning applications in Half Moon Lane and the High Road (turned down by the council).

"There is nothing wrong with flats in the right place," said local Liberal Democrat councillor Janet Whitehouse.

"Many young people can't afford to buy a house and if we want them to stay in the area they need somewhere to live."

"However the flats must be appropriate and not over-development. It is important that the council rejects applications that aren't in line with local planning policy."

Janet recently successfully proposed turning down a planning application to build eleven flats in Half Moon Lane on the old B&G garage site.

"I want to support improved facilities at the veterinary centre and the site is no longer appropriate for an industrial use like a garage. However the plans that we were presented with dominated the site. I hope the developers will come back with a better plan," she said.