Plans for 11 ‘bespoke’ flats on the site of a traditional village pub could still go ahead after a dramatic last-minute intervention last night (October 14).

At a meeting of Epping Forest District Council, councillors voted to refuse proposals from Constable Homes for the Sixteen String Jack pub in Coppice Row, Theydon Bois.

After the vote was cast however, five councillors ‘stood’ and forced the matter to be considered at a high-level district development management committee (DDMC).

Planners had recommended approval for the proposals after a slightly larger application was refused last year.

Officer Jill Shingler acknowledged it was a “difficult balancing act” for councillors with concerns about parking, scale and design, but she said improvements had been made in several areas.

Representing neighbours to the derelict pub and community groups, public speaker Martin King objected.

He received loud applause from members of the public after his statement, in which he claimed parking proposals of 1.4 spaces per flat was “woefully inadequate”.

“People do have visitors and deliveries,” he said.

“Where would the extra vehicles park?

“The only answer is Coppice Row itself.”

Loughton town councillor Peter Gooch said a lack of public transport, pavements and street lighting meant the development would be unsustainable.

The buildings would be “completely out of character with the surrounding area” and were substantially similar to the ones previously refused, he claimed.

Applicant Rory Anderson defended the plans, saying a new architect, reduction in size and more parking spaces than the refused application made it “plainly clear that we are improving the existing situation.”

He said there was no evidence for claims that accidents could increase on the road, with no objection from the highways department of Essex County Council.

Councillor Brian Rolfe gave his support, accusing people of making “wild statements” about road safety without solid statistics.

Claims of “creeping urbanisation” were unfounded, he added, saying: “You look round and all the boundaries of the forest… there are houses between this site and that.

“It is not an infringement of the forest in any way, shape or form.”

Despite the defence, a majority backed councillor John Philip’s proposal to refuse permission.

Cllr. Philip said the parking issues and a “difficult” walk to village facilities meant the plans should be refused.

Meeting chair councillor Sue Jones agreed, and said: “Perhaps the applicants have moved very, very slightly to our way forward but in my view nowhere near enough.”

Despite councillors at the meeting voting for refusal, a final decision will now be made at the DDMC where public speakers will once again be able to comment.

The next scheduled DDMC is at the civic offices in Epping on November 4.