Essex Arms Tesco Express plans refused
Waltham Forest Council have surprisingly refused the latest plans for a Tesco Express and flats on the Forest Road former Essex Arms site. On Thursday (8th Oct) they published 14 detailed reasons for turning down the application. Speaking to BAG the planning office expressed frustration that agents and architects for Tesco did not work closely with the council at the pre-application stage to overcome what they described as perfectly solvable issues.
It does however still seem likely that plans for the store and 4 storey flats will eventually get approval with the council expecting Tesco to submit a 3rd application “very shortly“.
Tesco’s first leafleted parts of the Blackhorse Road area about their plans back in August 2008, provoking much debate between those opposed to the company, the height of flats, or the effect it may have on local businesses, and those who wish to see a derelict site redeveloped. In the following 18 months many have blamed the council for delays while others are angry that Tesco as owners have allowed the site to become a squatted dilapidated eyesore.
In their 2nd application Tesco increased the height and density of the flats planned on the site, but the council implied they don’t have a problem with a four story frontage onto Forest Road. There were however concerns about the proximity of four storeys to the existing residential buildings as the Tesco flats went right up to the southern boundary. Tesco would need to move the flats back some 10 meters to get around this.
Also listed among the 14 objections are a lack of affordable housing.
BAG have not yet contacted Tesco for their response.
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