CAMPAIGNERS are preparing to do battle to protect an historic estate in the heart of Wanstead once again - after developers submitted a THIRD application to build 24 new homes on the site.

Telford Homes has handed in a revised plan to build six houses and 18 flats in the grounds of the former Chepstow House, in Leicester Road - after its previous application was turned down by Redbridge Council in July.

The Counties Residents Association (CRA) and Wanstead Society both objected to the firm's last proposals on the grounds that they were out of keeping with the area's newly acquired conservation status and would see the building of too many new homes.

And the two groups have vowed to do the same again after seeing the new plans, which they believe still conflict with the character of the Grove Park Conservation Area - where the estate is located.

CRA chairwoman, Helen Zammett, said the scheme was an improvement on the last application but that the design of some of the proposed new buildings was still unacceptable.

"It is disappointing that the design of the houses on Gloucester Road has not changed. This means that their size and scale will still loom over us and dominate the Gloucester Road street scene.

"Also, the style of the houses is not in keeping with that of existing houses on the road.

"As the design of the block of flats on the corner of Leicester Road and Gloucester Road has not been altered either, the section of the flats closest to that corner would dominate the street scene and overwhelm the houses on the other side of Gloucester Road,

"The balconies are out of place. They do not feature on any houses on the Counties Estate and are therefore unwarranted.

Ms Zammett also criticised Telford's plans to fell a protected tree on the site.

"Finally, in spite of Telford’s admission to the Regulatory Committee that all of the trees on the Chepstow site are healthy, they are still maintaining that the spruce beside No 10 Gloucester Road ought to be felled as it 'likely to be in long term decline.'"

Redbridge Conservation Advisory Panel will examine the new application during a meeting at Ilford Town Hall on Thursday, November 26.

Mark Park, Joint Group Managing Director of Telford Homes said: "Telford Homes is committed to the progression of the scheme located on Leicester Road, Wanstead and continues to communicate with Redbridge Council and local residents on the future plans for the site.

"We can confirm that a new application has been submitted in which we’ve looked to incorporate changes to address the matters raised by local residents and the Planning Inspectors comments on the previous scheme." .