Town square 'fallen victim to land-grabbing developers' as plans for high-rise tower blocks set to be approved

Larkswood councillor and deputy leader of the Conservative Group in Waltham Forest, Millie Balkan, has accused Capital & Regional of submitting a “farce” planning application to the council.

Plans for the blocks, the tallest which at 29 storeys would be Waltham Forest’s highest building, as well as new shops and restaurants at The Mall in Selborne Road, Walthamstow, were submitted to the council last April.

Thousands of people have signed a petition opposing the development which would see a third of the town square built on and mature trees chopped down.

Ms Balkan said: “C&R’s outline application for Walthamstow Town Square is a farce that fails to provide any basic level of detail.

“I have recently met with planning officers to get more detail on the proposed re-development of Walthamstow Town Square as the documents submitted alongside the planning application are plainly inadequate.

“It is not clear if the planning committee will ever be provided with specifics on the proposed tower blocks as the outline application is rushed and premature.”

Ms Balkan said the developers’ response to the consultation “failed to fully acknowledge any of the concerns raised by both businesses and residents of Waltham Forest”.

Council officers have recommended the plans be approved and a decision will be made at a meeting of the planning committee on Wednesday (December 13).

Kenneth Ford of Capital & Regional Plc said: "We are pleased to note the council officers' recommendation that our planning application for The Mall, Walthamstow should be approved, and look forward to the forthcoming planning committee.”

"The exciting vision for this high quality mixed-use development has evolved over many years.

“We welcome the opportunity to once again show how it can revitalise the town centre and deliver a very wide range of long-term benefits for Waltham Forest as a whole."