A developer has continued with a controversial plan to demolish a Victorian home and replace it with a block of flats by applying for planning permission for a sixth time.


Lee Jose’s previous plans to knock down the building in Bedford Road, South Woodford, were repeatedly rejected by Redbridge Council's planning committee after being recommended for approval by officers.


It has also been rejected twice by the planning inspectorate on appeal.
Now Mr Jose has reduced the number of proposed flats by one to seven in attempt to ease fears over the size and scale of the proposal.


Mr Jose, who bought the property five years ago, said: "I will be here forever and a day.


"If they want to keep the character of the street, they should look to their own neighbours.


"One has a shed on the roof and eight out of ten homes have turned their front gardens into a driveway.


"The house I want to build is more in keeping with the character of the street than any other homes there.
 

"They can keep objecting for the next ten years it will make no difference to us."


Campaigner Sue Brown said: "Fighting against this has just become part of our life."