Plans to demolish a bungalow to make way for a six one-bedroom flats in Buckhurst Hill have been deferred after councillors failed to come to an agreement.

The scheme would see the bulldozing of a bungalow on the junction of Princes Road and Queens Road to make way for a three-storey development with six one-bedroom flats, two commercial units on the ground floor, refuse area, bike storage, and a private amenity area.

However, after a split vote – eight for, eight against and one abstention – Epping Forest District planning committee voted to defer the planning application to the district development management committee (DDMC) at a meeting on Wednesday, September 23.

Ward councillor Gavin Chambers, who voted against the plans, told councillors he ‘really liked the design’ but could not approve it due to the size of the development and the impact it would have on Princes Road residents.

He said: “I really like the design. I think it is very sympathetic… but it is too overbearing for the house right next door to it. It will have a significant impact on them.”

Commercial and regulatory services portfolio holder Cllr Aniket Patel agreed, saying he felt the development would have too large an impact on the neighbouring properties.

Cllr Simon Heap, who voted for the proposal, said: “This is a tricky one because of the impact it will have on the rest of the street.

“However, I think this will actually be an improvement to that junction. I think the design is very clever and very sympathetic.”

Green Party councillor Steven Neville also voted against the scheme, claiming the building would “dwarf the bungalows next to it”.

The DDMC will provide a ruling on the development in the coming months.

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