A plan to demolish "one of Chingford's original bungalows" and replace it with two family-sized homes has been approved, despite fierce opposition from neighbours.
Owner's Lorraine and Robert Webster were last night granted permission by Waltham Forest council's planning committee to knock down the bungalow in Connaught Avenue, Chingford, which was built in 1922, and erect two four-bedroon semi-detached homes.
A total of 20 objections were received from residents in the road, including neighbours either side, who argued the proposal was an overdevelopment, would overshadow homes and impact on property prices.
Neighbour Andrew Walden, argued: "Number 78 was one of the first properties to be built in Connaught Avenue as an arts-and-crafts-style bungalow and it would be a great shame to lose one of Chingford's orginal properties to these featureless fake 1930s cheap homes.
"Surely we should be enhancing the area, not detracting from it.
Neighbour Brenda Richards told the committee the proposal was "totally unacceptable" as the amount of people housed would increase from two to 12 and she feared the homes could be bought with a view to let.
She accused the Webster's of "greed" and said the bungalow demolition would mark the "start of something dreadful in Connaught Avenue".
This was further reiterated by Alan North, of Connaught Avenue, who said there is a "real danger other detached properties will be intensively developed".
Despite neighbours' concerns, councillor's Alan Siggers and Jenny Gray praised the proposal.
"The design takes its cue from what's around," said Cllr Siggers.
"You've got these big two-storey homes either side and this little bungalow.
"The bungalow was probably built for a reason which suited purposes at the time, we now have to build homes that suit purposes of this time."
Council planning officer William Richards said any decision to reject the application could not be sustained on appeal and any additional overlooking of gardens did not warrant a refusal.
Mr Williams added the design of the homes were acceptable and "sympathetic" to the surrounding properties.
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