A community group has launched a bid to buy a green space from a developer and open it up for the community.

The Wanstead Society, formed 15 years ago to fight development on the site in High Street, Wanstead, known locally as Evergreen Field, is currently setting up a trust fund to finance a purchase.

The society already has planning permission for the community use of the site, but must strike a deal with landowner Dalco Development to make the proposal a reality.

However, the company described the bid as a “waste of time”.

The society has commissioned a land valuation, which is due to be completed this week, and has enlisted a solicitor to establish the trust fund.

It is not known how much the land is worth, but it was briefly put on sale for £499,995 earlier this year.

It was reportedly bought for £200,000 by Dalco Developments last year.

The society said it will rely largely on fundraising to finance any purchase and is optimistic of making Dalco Developments owner, Dalbir Singh Sanger, “an offer it can’t refuse”.

Committee member Geoff Horsnell said:  “There have been a lot of comments from local residents who have said they will contribute £200 or £500 to help and, with a trust fund, there’s a possibility of lottery funding and charitable funding.”

But Dalco agent Dez Stowe rejected the possibility of a deal.

He said: “My client will not sell said land and they are wasting their time even considering buying the land.

Dalco hope to build homes on the land, but Redbridge Council said this would go against its policy on green spaces. 

The company previously said a Middle East based group had offered to build a large mosque on the land.

Mr Horsnell said he thought the site would become available “sooner or later” as maintaining the site is costing the owners money they could not make back through a development deal.