PLANS to build a block of flats in Wanstead will be submitted to council for the second time, despite strong local opposition.

Eighteen residents have written to Redbridge Council objecting to the proposal which would require an existing house to be bulldozed for a three-storey block of six flats.

They say that the new building at 111 Gardner Close will cut out light, affect privacy, increase congestion, and impact the local environment.

Pauline Brumwell, 87, of The Avenue fears it may spoil people’s enjoyment of the grade II listed gazebo in her garden.

The new block would overlook the historic feature, cutting out light and damaging surrounding vegetation, she said.

“The flats will be a matter of yards away,” she told the Guardian, “and the gazebo is supposed to be conserved.”

The 17th century gazebo was recently restored by English Heritage and is often featured as part of London-wide open house events.

Mrs Brumwell said: “I think it’s just a matter of time before the flats are built, but I’m trying to put it off as long as I can.”

She added that it was “a great pity” that it would encroach on Wanstead’s “little corner of natural woodland”.

Details of the development were laid before the planning department in June last year, and were subsequently rejected because the building was deemed to be intrusive.

But developer Habib Hamidi has come back with a revised plan - with three less flats than the original application and a reduction in the height.

Chairwoman of the Wanstead Historical Society, Doreen Golding, has lived on Gardiner Close for more than 40 years.

She said the revisions would make no difference and car parking would still be a huge problem.

“There’s only going to be more cars, there’s not even room for the ones here now,” she told the Guardian.

“They’re parked up on the pavement and on the grass – we’ve got an underground car park, but no-one uses it.”

Project controller Raja Khan told the Guardian that developers had “satisfied all provisions and more”.

He explained that the proposed building would be lower than existing surrounding buildings and car parking spaces would be provided for each flat.

“There will be seven parking spots, a bike rack and the train station is very close as well,” he said.

“In fact there should be no more traffic going in and out of the close than before.”

He added that the block would be no closer to the historic gazebo than the existing building.

The application will be brought before the council’s regulatory committee on Thursday, December 15.