A public consultation has been launched into a planning brief which “would be a significant change to the area”.

Redbridge council is consulting on a Draft Planning Brief for the Station Estate and adjoining land in South Woodford.

The site lies off George Lane close to South Woodford station and is allocated as a housing development opportunity site in the existing Local Development Framework.

The council confirmed there has been considerable developer interest in the land and it is hoping to put together a planning brief to help guide development so that it is appropriate to its context and beneficial to the area.

Following public consultation, which ends on December 15, the planning brief will be updated and finalised early next year.

The document will be used in the consideration of planning applications for redevelopment of the site.

Local residents and other interested parties are being invited to comment on the plan, which can be found on the council’s website.

Officers will be present to answer questions and discuss the content of the plan at the local forum being held at Churchfields Junior School, South Woodford, on the evening of December 10.

Conservative Cllr Tom McLaren said the plan could see the area of Station Estate completely changed and urged residents to have their say.

He said: “This would be a significant change to the area of George Lane, completely changing the layout and aspect, with a significant addition of residential and secondary retail space.

“Given the character of George Lane it's vital that the council gets this right.

“It's very unfortunate that both this consultation and the Local Development Framework consultation have been launched at a time when South Woodford library is closed.”