WOODFORD GREEN: Fire house future on the line

8:49am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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AN HISTORIC house hit by a devastating fire while it was at the centre of a controversial planning application is set to have its fate decided this month.

Developers had wanted to knock down the Victorian property in Mornington Road, Woodford Green, and build five luxury homes in its place but Redbridge Council turned down the their request last year.

There was further bad luck when the house went up in flames back in March, severely damaging the building and destroying its roof.

Despite its delapidated state, the council is still expected to rack up thousands of pounds in legal bills attempting to defend their decision to refuse permission for demolition and on Tuesday, May 20, a public hearing will be held so that a final decision can be made by the Government's Independent Planning Inspectorate.

Some residents on the street said they were happy for the planning application to go ahead, partly because the house is so badly damaged.

Neighbour John Green, 84, said: "The house is a wreck, it's just the outer walls standing so it's extremely dangerous.

"I've got the plans for what they want to do and it looks OK to me, but on two conditions - that they don't build flats and that they preserve as many trees as possible, but I think the houses look fine."The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but at the time some residents speculated it could have been started by squatters who had been occupying the house, which had been derelict for two years.

Cllr Keith Prince, Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and Environment, defended the council's stance on the house.

He said: "Redbridge has a lot of notable architecture, especially in conservation areas, and we refused the applications because we felt the property had a positive effect on the neighbourhood.

"The planning process naturally allows people to appeal decisions, and we will present our findings at the public enquiry."

Tuesday's public inquiry will be held in the York Room of Central Library, Ilford, starting at 9.30am, and will continue if necessary on Wednesday May 21.