A bid to turn an old people’s home into a 24-hour bed and breakfast has been withdrawn following community opposition.

A total of 150 people signed a petition objecting to the proposal by Patrick and Bridget Bell for the building in Aldersbrook Road, Wanstead.

People living nearby said the business would cause disruption.

An email shown to the Guardian, between Wanstead ward councillors Sheila Bain and Paul Merry, confirmed the application has now been withdrawn.

Cllr Bain wrote: "I have been informed by Redbridge planning officers that the application for a change of use to a bed and breakfast was withdrawn by the applicant today."

Mr and Mrs Bell can resubmit plans, but the email also confirmed that Redbridge planning officers considered the application to be contrary to Policy C1, which states that the council will safeguard existing facilities for community use. 

The residents' petition said: “We believe this [change in use of the facilities] will impact adversely on the residential character of the Aldersbrook Conservation Area, which will have two major bed and breakfast hostels within less than a hundred meters of each other in an area with very few social facilities."