Campaigners are celebrating as work is set to start on the conversion of a historic Victorian house while retaining its outer shell.

Adam Draper, a property lawyer and partner at Richard Pearlman LLP, paid £1.15million earlier this year for Bedford House, in Bedford Road, South Woodford.

The previous owner was given permission by Redbridge council planners to demolish the house and build a block of seven flats in 2013, but he fought for two more years and ultimately failed to get permission for an extra storey and two more flats due to it being out of keeping with the area.

Mr Draper is set to convert the building into two houses while retaining its outer shell.

The two properties are expected to be finished and on the market by April 2016.

Sue Brown lives next door to the property and in February last year the previous owner had attempted to gain a precedence for his plan for a four-storey block of flats by submitting a planning application to knock down her house.

This was rejected by Redbridge council later in the year due again to it again being out of keeping with the area.

Thanking those who have helped the campaign, Sue Brown said: “Whatever happens it means we do finally have an outcome which keeps the outside of the house so after all these years we have some success in our efforts.

“Well done to all of you.”

Church End ward Conservative councillor Tom McLaren added: “Congratulations and thank you to everyone on the achievement in retaining this building.

“These types of victories are unfortunately very rare, so they should be savoured and celebrated.”