Work to convert a former Inland Revenue building into housing is underway. 

Developer Havenridge Britannia Ltd was granted permission earlier this year to develop Charteris House in Charteris Road, Woodford Green, from offices to homes. 

Plans for 21 units comprising six studio apartments and 15 one-bedroom flats were approved in September. 

The three-storey flat-roofed 1950s building, described by residents as an "eyesore". has stood empty since the turn of the millennium. 

Havenridge Britannia was granted permission back in 2010 to redevelop the site, which sits within the Woodford Broadway Conservation Area, to shops, offices and nine flats after a previous application to build a four-storey block was rejected in 2009. 

The council is yet to make a decision on a further application submitted on October 17 to construct a mansard roof, which will provide an extra five flats.     

Workmen have started to clear the inside of the building in preparation for construcion work. 

All of the building's windows and doors will be replaced with powder coated aluminium frames, and the site's plant room to the rear of the building will be demolished to make way for a bin storage area. 

The flats will be surrounded by a 1.8m green-pained steel fence.