14 residential units at 56 - 60 Grove Road, Chingford
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Waltham Forest Planning Committee on 2 Dec 2025.
The site and surroundings
The site is an operating vehicle mechanics business on Grove Road, surrounded mainly by homes, with nearby town centres and a conservation area.
“The immediate surrounding area on Grove Road is formed of predominantly residential dwellings. However, there is small parade of shops at the junction with Pembroke Road/ Grove Road, up until West Street/ Grove Road. Adjacent to the application site…”
Officer report
Main planning considerations
The assessment covered housing, design, living conditions, accessibility, biodiversity, climate change, waste, highways, contamination, safety and planning obligations.
“The main issues for consideration, in relation to the proposed development are as follows: A. Principle of development B. Affordable Homes C. Urban Design/ Conservation D. Housing Mix E. Living Conditions - Future Occupiers F. Living Conditions - neighbouring amenity G. Accessibility H. Trees and Local Biodiversity (Biodiversity Net Gain) I. Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation…”
“J. Climate change and sustainability K. Waste Management L. Highways, Traffic Management and Parking M. Contamination O. Making Places Safer and Designing out Crime P. Planning obligations…”
Officer report
Consultee responses
Design, highways, refuse and police consultees supported the proposal or identified requirements, while several consultees made no comment.
“Response Cllr Ahsan Khan • A comment was not received. Cllr Andrew Dixon • A comment was not received. Cllr Miriam Mirwitch • A comment was not received. Design • The proposal is of high quality and achieves the aims of character-led intensification. It is positive there is an active frontage. • The materiality and architecture appears to be of high quality – but the materials should be specified. Environmental Health • A comment was not received.”
“Met Police • Suggestions were made to improve site security and that the proposal should be built in accordance with the requirements of secure by design and achieve accreditation and certification prior to occupation.”
Officer report
The committee decision
The committee granted planning permission subject to the report’s conditions and informatives and completion of a Section 106 legal agreement.
“That planning permission be granted for Application 250746 for the demolition of existing commercial building and construction of a three-storey building (fronting Grove Road) (Block 1) and a two-storey building (at the rear) (Block 2) with balconies on the upper floors (Use Class C3) to facilitate the creation of 14 self- contained residential units.”
“E) Legal Fees: o i) Payment of the Council’s legal fees for the preparation and completion of the Legal Agreement. o ii) Monitoring Fee - A financial contribution towards the implementation and monitoring of and securing compliance with the S106, equal to 5% of the total of all other financial contributions.”
Minutes
Councillors at the meeting
- Jenny GrayChairLabourFor(no vote against recorded)
- Sebastian SalekVice-ChairLab Co-opFor(no vote against recorded)
- John MossConservativeFor(no vote against recorded)
- Keith RaynerLabourFor(no vote against recorded)
The minutes record this decision with no vote against, so each member present for this item is shown as voting for it.
Apologies Uzma Rasool Labour
Source: Plota analysis of the council's minutes; parties from the council's list of councillors and Democracy Club.
Sources
- Waltham Forest Planning Committee minutes, 2 December 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Waltham Forest's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Waltham Forest Planning Committee
- Council
- Waltham Forest
- Date
- Tuesday 2 December 2025
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Councillors
- 4Labour 2Conservative 1Lab Co-op 1Show votes
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- View application →
- All decisions
- Waltham Forest committee decisions →
This committee's year
19 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.