Block of flats design 'resembles pair of goggles'

Redbridge council’s regulatory committee voted to reject the plans for the large development in New Wanstead last night (May 28) at Redbridge town hall in Ilford.

Developers were seeking permission to turn Wanstead’s The British Queen restaurant into two two-bedroom flats and build another block of eight next door in the current car park. 

The building was converted to a restaurant from a pub in 2010 after being empty for six months.

But while councillors were satisfied with the conversion of the restaurant, the design of the modern block of eight flats next door left some bemused. 

At the meeting, Chadwell ward Labour councillor Anne Sachs denounced the design as resembling a “pair of goggles” and said it was “absolutely obtrusive”.

The British Queen was converted into a restaurant from a pub in 2010.

Conservative ward councillor for the Snaresbrook ward, Christopher Cummins, was also scathing in his assessment of the proposal. 

He said: "My first thought on seeing the plan was that the new block of flats is in your face, it is out of keeping with the street scene and is rather overbearing. 

"I have no problem with the conversion of The British Queen but the new block of flats leaps out at you and is totally inappropriate. 

"It would be detrimental to the area." 

But Conservative Tom McLaren, of Church End ward, defended the design. 

He said: “There is a mix of buildings in New Wanstead and it is difficult to establish a consistent style for the street. 

“It needs to be placed in the context of the street as a whole and I don’t particularly dislike it. 

Architect David Tucker spoke at the meeting to defend his design. 

“The building fits in with the context of New Wanstead, it picks up on lines and reveals The British Queen as the dominant building next door,” he said. 

“Some materials and colours were picked up from neighbouring properties, it is designed to be sustainable, and it has clean lines.”