NEIGHBOURS have slammed a proposal to extend a block of flats as “logistically impossible” and claim it would cause “absolute chaos”.

A planning application to build a third storey on top of Dorchester Court in Buckingham Road, South Woodford, was registered with Redbridge Council on October 12.

But although a similar one was met with fierce opposition and rejected in July last year, people living in the flats and surrounding area claim they have not been told about a new one.

Clive Chenery, who has lived in one of the flats for 20 years, said: “I only found out when our councillor told me.

“The same thing happened last year and everyone in the road came together to oppose it.

“By not telling us about it, they’re not really giving us any time to object.”

The 72-year-old also said the months of building work would be “hell” for residents like him.

He added: “They’re going to build six garages to go with the six new flats, which will destroy almost all of our green space.

“It’s very pleasant having that space to use because we don’t have gardens. When my grandchildren come to visit they play out there.”

Pranav Bhanot, who has lived in Buckingham Road for 22 years, is most concerned about the “chronic” lack of parking.

There are no parking restrictions along the road, which Mr Bhanot and his neighbours claim mean it is full of cars from surrounding streets and people parking there to use South Woodford Station.

The 28-year-old said: “Our road is probably one of the most congested in London, we simply do not have the space for any more residents or their cars.

“It can be absolute chaos sometimes.

“I consider myself a good driver, but I have clipped my car about four times in the last year.

“The idea of the building work itself then the extra residents with their cars seems logistically impossible.

“It’s going to make a bad situation even worse.”

The previous application to extend Dorchester Court was rejected on the grounds of lack of parking, insufficient amenity space and its “scale and bulk out of character”.

So Mr Bhanot and his ward Cllr Emma Best are concerned if the new application is accepted, it could set a “dangerous precedent” for overdevelopment in South Woodford.

Mr Bhanot added: “We are very lucky in places like Woodford and Wanstead to have green space near our homes.

“If they get rid of it with this extension, I worry it would be a slippery slope and mean every bit of green gets concreted over for the sake of development.

“Before you know it, we could go from a leafy London suburb to looking like the inner city.”

Cllr Best agreed with Mr Bhanot, branding the development of such a congested road “crazy”.

She said: “I don’t know how they even get rubbish lorries down there to collect the bins - parking is that bad.

“The road is full to bursting with people and their cars as it is.

“Then imagine if you owned a property and someone came along and wanted to build directly on top of you.

“It’s a ridiculous proposal and there has been no consultation from the council either.”

Her Conservative colleague MP Iain Duncan Smith has also voiced his concerns and urged the council to reconsider the plans in light of the "strength of feeling" from residents.

A Redbridge Council spokesman claimed consultation letters "should be with residents by the end of this week".

They added: "The Council will also be consulting with the local highways authority for their feedback on the impact the development would have on the roads.

"It's right to say the previous application was refused for four separate reasons.

"Any revised scheme would have to be amended to overcome these issues and be approved."

as refused in July 2015 for four separate reasons. Any revised scheme would need to be amended to overcome all of these issues in order to be approved."

The application is open to objections until November 14.