A former police officer has turned down a flat near Jessel Green because of the council's building plans.

Last week Nick Winder was given the opportunity to move in to a council house on Collard Avenue, which runs off the eastern edge of the Debden field.

The 51 year-old accepted the house swap and competed a chain which included a third party in Brentwood.

The deal fell apart however when Mr Winder discovered a Guardian article detailing how Epping Forest District Council planned on destroying part of the Green and building 154 homes in its place.

The retired police officer said: "I thought it was too good to be true and accepted the offer last week.

"He didn't tell me about the building work on Jessel Green. He was trying to land me with it.

"The building work could go on for years and years.

"I lived in a property in Camden an they were building downstairs. It was non-stop morning and night."

Concerned he could be trapped again in the midst of the construction site in a property no-longer boasting access to a large green space, Mr Winder pulled out of the deal.