NEIGHBOURS have won their battle to stop developers turning an old pub into a 12-storey tower block.

Southern Housing Group applied to demolish The Avenue pub in Newbury Park and build 177 apartments there in February this year.

They claimed the “unique” development would enhance the area and help Redbridge meet its housing targets.

But residents were not convinced and submitted dozens of objections begging the council’s planning department to reject the proposals over concerns about the height of the building, overcrowding, and parking.

They argued the site at 902 Eastern Avenue is not in one of the borough’s tall building zones, making it a breach of the Redbridge Local Plan 2015-2030.

Neighbours also expressed major concern over Southern Housing’s plans to only allocate 65 parking spaces for the 500 people who could end up living there.

At a planning committee meeting last week (July 26) their ward councillors backed them up, saying the area is already “high stress” when it comes to parking and the height of the building is “unacceptable”.

After some tense deliberations, the plans were rejected by six votes to four, meaning Southern Housing will have to go back to the drawing board.

Chairman of the Seven Kings and Newbury Park Residents Association (SKNPRA), who was instrumental in battling the application, said: “We’re delighted this scheme has been refused – it would have been a severe over-development.

“We hope Southern Housing Group takes on board the reasons for refusal and works with locals to design a more acceptable scheme.”

But SKNPRA fear “the matter won’t end here” and are prepared to take on Mayor of London Sadiq Khan or the Secretary of State should the developers decide to appeal the council’s decision.

A group spokesman added: “Our preference would be for the applicant to design an entirely new scheme that fully reflects the character of the area and the height of local buildings.

“We may even consider supporting it if it proves appropriate.”

For further details about SKNPRA or for an application to join contact Mark Kennedy on 0208 598 8435 or email markkennedy18@hotmail.com