A former squat and art gallery will be demolished after the council voted unanimously for a new development, despite concerns of ‘toxic’ air pollution at the site next to a busy road.

The former 491 Gallery in Grove Green Road, near Leytonstone Tube station, had been occupied for years since its previous owners, Transport for London, left it derelict.

The gallery had regularly hosted exhibitions, film screenings, gigs, and life drawing classes, which people could attend for free before it was sold to ATM Development Ltd.

In 2013 The East London Garden Society chose Gallery 491 as having the best community garden.

The planning committee discussing the proposal last night (August 4) received 64 letters of objection for the plan to build nine residential units and a public use space on the site which would be offered for a ‘peppercorn’ rent.

Objections stated the build would overlook neighbouring homes leading to a loss of privacy, sunlight, the loss of a community space and an increase in parking stress.

Conservative Cllr Alan Siggers of Valley Ward, called the former squat an “eyesore at a prominent location.”

“It is a win, that the award winning garden is going to be retained but just look at the state of the place.

“It doesn’t give out the best image. ‘Welcome to Waltham Forest we are going to retain this derelict building because we don’t know what to do with it.’”

The central debate became about the air pollution in the area that is located just metres away from the A12, after a planning inspectorate found air quality to be adequate.

Cllr Siggers continued: “People still choose to live there and if you look at the area there is a children’s playground right next to the development.”

But Labour Cllr Marie Pye argued that pollution had increased since the last application for the development was rejected in 2013.

She said: “If we were to build a children’s playground now we sure as hell wouldn’t build it there.

“The A12 emits the highest levels of particulates (toxic pollution) in the borough and possibly even in London.

“People should not be breathing that in let alone be living there.

“I never reject housing developments, especially not in my ward.

“But we need quality housing not housing which will kill the children living in it, and that is no exaggeration.

Scott Martin, 35, who had opposed the application shouted ‘disgraceful’ as the committee voted through the plans unanimously.

He told the Guardian: “It looked as though they had made up their mind. I don't think they have read it through properly.

"The developers kept calling the 491 Gallery an illegal squat but squatting a commercial building has never been illegal. Likewise, the people living next door whose homes are threatened are legal occupiers paying council tax."

“My objection that the new build 1 metre away from peoples windows will plunge neighbours into abject darkness was completely ignored.

“I feel sorry for any children who may grow up there, that motorway is awash with noise and pollution.”