PLANS that could see five of the district's car parks developed to include homes and shops are to be reconsidered by Epping Forest District Council.

At the last district council cabinet meeting councillors considered plans to review the development potential of Bakers Lane (long and short stay car parks), Epping; Church Hill and The Broadway (Burton Road), Loughton; Cornmill, Waltham Abbey; and Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill.

District council leader John Knapman told the Guardian: "The aim at this stage is simply to determine whether it makes good sense to use these car parks to provide a mix of shops, offices and affordable homes while retaining the important car parking spaces provided in a number of them.

"Once these briefs are provided I would expect consultation with town councils and residents so it can be decided whether there's a mix which makes good sense for each locality."

He added: "In the Epping case it might make sense to use car parks as part of a revitalisation of the shopping centre whereas at Church Hill affordable homes might be given a higher priority.

"This is what we need to find out for the consultants.

"It's about building over car parks and maybe extending them.

"The brief is that we don't lose parking in important shopping areas.

"There will be more parking and maybe additional shops."

The plans would echo a similar development at the former Lamb's garage site, High Road, Loughton, where parking was incorporated as part of the Marks and Spencer Simply Food store, and could see the car parks became residential, commercial or leisure-based developments.

However the proposals, which include appointing a consultant to compile a report, have been put on hold by the council's cabinet until they have been reviewed by the overview and scrutiny panel.