Controversial plans to build a five-storey apartment block close to existing homes in Leyton has been approved by Waltham Forest council.

The local authority’s planning committee awarded a 50-home development on the junction of Church Road and Tallack Road planning permission at a meeting last night (Tuesday, August 16).

The five-storey block, proposed by developers Tallack Road Developments Ltd, will comprise of 20 per cent affordable housing, including six affordable rental homes and four shared ownership units.

However, nearby residents have voiced concerns over the scale of the development, loss of light in nearby homes and increased demand for parking in Tallack Road.

Sydney Barrat, who has lived in Tallack Road for more than 50 years, said: “There are a number of concerns which, without a shadow of a doubt, will adversely affect the residents of the road.

“From my point of view, and in the view of the vast majority of residents, top of the list is parking problems.

“Tallack Road is a narrow cul-de-sac, refuse collectors and emergency vehicles can only make it half way down the road- it is an absolute nightmare at the moment.

“The proposed development, with its vehicle entrance in Tallack Road, would reduce the current car parking space available to residents without any alterative provision envisaged.”

The development will be five storeys high at its tallest points, with smaller sections closer to the road standing at three storeys.

Despite complaints about the scale of the development, a report by council officers concluded the block’s size was acceptable.

The report cited a decision in 2004 to grant planning permission on the site for a four-storey health centre.

The project never went ahead and the land has since stood derelict.

Lea Bridge ward councillor, Cllr Masood Ahmad, said: “I have been a councillor for this ward since 2002 and I have been living locally as well.

“I know Tallack Road, it is a pretty narrow street. I do not know how refuse collection and emergency services have been coping, it is a horrendous situation.

“In my opinion, three to five stories is out of character, all around this area is standard, two or three bedroom, two storey houses, family houses.

“Now suddenly to bring in a five-storey building, it is too much.”

The planning committee voted to approve planning permission for the development, a decision which was met with shouts of “you don’t have to live there” from the public gallery.

Addressing residents in attendance at the meeting, committee chairman, Jenny Gray, said: “I know it is difficult as you have been living next to open space for many years.

“But it is inevitable given London’s housing crisis, and our need to contribute to alleviating it, that we cannot leave ex-industrial land vacant for years and years.

“I would love to live in a world where we could just build two or three storey houses, but we cannot achieve what we need and house the people that need housing without schemes of a higher density.

“Unfortunately, in London, in an urban environment, these things are inevitable.”