An application to open up a fenced off green space to the community has been approved.

Tonight councillors on the regional planning committee west voted unanimously in favour of the Wanstead Society's proposals for Evergreen Field in High Street, Wanstead.

These include creating a community orchard and incorporating the space into the adjacent Christchurch Green.

Objections were raised by the site owner Dalco Developments, which plans to build homes on the site, with the aim of making 50 per cent of the land open to the public.

Speaking at the meeting he called for the application to be rejected on the grounds that the society do not own the land and it has not been open to the public for 50 years.

Speaking on behalf of Dalco after the meeting, Dez Stowe said he would now work with the society to take the firm's plans forward.

Dalco Developments is yet to submit a planning application.