CAMPAIGNERS said their pretty street scene will be ruined if owners of a bungalow are given permission to turn it into a two storey house.

More than 40 objections have been submitted to the district council against the development at the Orchards in Epping.

Town councillors for Epping rejected the application at their planning meeting this evening (July 28) where residents from the Orchards voiced their opinions against the development.

Speaking at the meeting Roy Peppiat said: “We have been residents for over 40 years and we find it really unique that the Orchards is a bungalow estate and we wish it to continue to be this way. If this permission is granted we feel it will set a precedent for the future.”

The owners of the property applied to raise the roof of the bungalow and turn it into a two storey house with an extra third bedroom.

Brenda Allen from the Orchards said: “The roof plan of the Orchards is very important it's such a pretty estate and all the roofs are the same height. We don't want the estate to look any different to how it does now.”

Margaret Peppiatt added: “It's a unique estate and there isn't one anywhere else like it.”

Councillors voted unanimously to reject the application.

Councillor Ken Avey said: “It's a drastic alteration. It changes the whole aspect of the estate.

"Epping is a nice old market town but it's gradually becoming altered. People have got to have families which grow up but there are plenty of other places where they could get what they wanted rather than here.”

The application will be considered by the district council in the near future.