The Redbridge Council Planning Committee was scheduled to discuss several planning applications, including developer presentations for sites in Chadwell Heath and Ilford, and scheduled applications for developments in Ilford and Wanstead. The committee was also expected to review the minutes from a previous meeting.

Developer Presentations

The Planning Committee was scheduled to hear developer presentations for two sites:

• Tesco Extra at 822 High Road, Chadwell Heath, Romford.
• Ley Street Car Park in Ilford.

Scheduled Applications

The Planning Committee was scheduled to consider the following planning applications:

• 0598/25 - Garage Block at Greenway Court 1, Valentines Road, Ilford - A proposal to erect four self-contained flats (two with one bedroom and two with two bedrooms) above the existing garages, with associated cycle storage, waste/refuse facilities, and amenity space. Greenway Asset Management Limited is listed as the applicant.
  • Nine objections had been received. Concerns included the scale and form of the development, overshadowing, loss of outlook, and parking stress. Supporters said it would be an efficient use of space, of good design and sustainable.
  • The Local Highways Authority did not object, subject to conditions.
  • The planning officer's report noted that Redbridge Council had not met its housing targets and as such there was considerable weight afforded to housing delivery as a consideration in the decision-making process.
  • The planning officer's report stated that the proposal would result in a very low level, of less than substantial harm the character and setting of the adjacent Valentines Park to the north of the site due to the relative height, the context of neighbouring buildings, and the effective screening from the treeline.
  • The planning officer's report stated that the proposed flats would be of a high quality, above their minimum respective requirements, with good levels of outlook, daylight, sunlight, and freedom from overlooking.
  • The planning officer's report stated that the proposal would not have a significant impact on neighbouring amenity for the properties within the vicinity of the proposal site.
  • The planning officer's report stated that the proposal would have zero off-street parking provision and this would comply with the maximum parking standards set by Policy T6.1 of the London Plan[^1] [^1]: Policy T6.1 of the London Plan concerns car parking, and sets maximum parking standards for new developments.
  • The planning officer's report stated that the application was claiming de-minimis exemption from biodiversity net gain requirements as the existing site contains less than 25 square metres of onsite habitat/less than 5 square metres of linear habitat.
  • The planning officer's report stated that the Councils Arboriculturists have no objection to the proposal.
  • The planning officer's report stated that the application is for new housing which is located within the 6.2km Zone of Influence of Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation. As such the Natural England guidance applies and screening and appropriate assessment is required. The agreed approach is to ensure that there is no detrimental impact on the integrity of the Epping Forest SAC through Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) towards Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANGS). This equates to £255.84 and £1892.20 respectively and would be secured as part of a unilateral undertaking which has been submitted with the application.
• 0787/25 - 1A and 3A, High Street, Wanstead, London - A proposal to demolish the existing single-storey flat roof retail units and redevelop the site to provide a ground floor retail unit with three self-contained flats to the upper floors, with associated cycle store and waste/refuse storage. Prema Properties is the applicant.
  • Thirteen objections had been received.
  • The planning officer's report stated that the requirements for use class percentages under Policy LP10 of the Councils Local Plan[^2] are wholly out of date and were superseded by the introduction of Class E[^3] and the freedom to move between the various sub classes of Class E i.e. E(a), E(b), E(c) etc. [^2]: Policy LP10 of the Redbridge Council's Local Plan concerns the protection of local shopping parades. [^3]: Class E is a use class designation in the UK planning system that covers a variety of commercial, business and service uses.
  • The planning officer's report stated that the three flats would all be 1-bed 2-person in size, two towards the front (1 and 3) would be single storey and 61 square metres in size. While the one at the rear (2) would be two storey, also 61 square metres in size. All three in excess of their minimum space requirements (50 and 58 square metres respectively).
  • The planning officer's report stated that none of the three flats have provision for private amenity space, contrary to Policy D6 of the London Plan[^4] and Policy LP29 of the Councils Local Plan. [^4]: Policy D6 of the London Plan concerns inclusive design.
  • The planning officer's report stated that the proposal would not have a significant impact on neighbouring amenity for the properties within the vicinity of the proposal site.
  • The planning officer's report stated that none of the three flats would have off-street parking and this is compliant with Policy T6.1 of the London Plan which sets out that all areas with a PTAL rating of 5-6 should be car free.
  • The planning officer's report stated that the application is claiming de-minimis exemption from biodiversity net gain requirements as the existing site contains less than 25 square metres of onsite habitat/less than 5 square metres of linear habitat.
  • The planning officer's report stated that the application is for new housing which is located within the 6.2km Zone of Influence of Epping Forest SAC. As such the Natural England guidance applies and screening and appropriate assessment is required. The agreed approach is to ensure that there is no detrimental impact on the integrity of the Epping Forest SAC through Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) towards Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANGS). This is secured as part of a unilateral undertaking which has been submitted with the application.

Minutes from Previous Meeting

The Planning Committee was scheduled to review the minutes from the meeting held on 23 June 2025.