EXCLUSIVE: ‘It’s awful, we have lost all our privacy and our gardens now look onto a complete nightmare.’

Residents and councillors fight against another 12 storey tower block being built in Romford at the back of residential properties.

“Romford is changing and it’s not for the better. There are tower blocks going up all around us despite us being told we need more family homes,” these hard hitting words were from one of the many residents living near the Como Street car park that is facing another 12 storey tower block potentially being built at the back of their gardens.

Yesterday, Monday 19 August, the Havering Daily joined Councillor David Taylor at the Como Street car park to look at the impact another tower block would make on residents living in the area. We spoke to many residents about the intrusion on their privacy this has had on them.

One resident told us: “I’m used to doing daily exercises outside in my garden. I frequently do yoga here with friends. Now we cannot because we have no more privacy. We are literally surrounded by tower blocks that will have balconies and people that will look straight into our gardens and homes. We have lost all privacy now, it’s is awful.

If we want to sell, we can’t, our houses have lost £100k because of these builds and now they want to put another 12 storey build next to the ones we have.”

Most residents living on the roads near Como Street have lived there for over 20 years and love their homes and the area as it was. Now, the increase in tower blocks has seen a huge change to their local area, and not one they like.

Another resident living just behind the tower blocks told the Havering Daily: “We accept that more homes are needed, but we were told family homes were being built, where are they? All we are faced with is the prospect of more tower blocks going up. We have an 18 storey block, three 16 storey blocks, a hotel, all being built behind us. Now, we could possibly have another 12 storey going up. The noise level everyday is another factor. Then we are told these blocks will be orange or salmon or all different colours. How will that look when we come into our gardens? What a view will we have?”

One resident living near the tower blocks was denied planning permission to build a brick based shed, yet has questioned why she had her application for a shed denied because of the flooding possibility by the nearby river, yet a 12 storey tower block can go up in the same area.

Romford Councillors Nisha Patel and David Taylor have been supporting the residents in the area and are regular contact with them. They told the Havering Daily:

“Residents are asking that the council put something suitable on this site, homes not hutches. We understand the government targets, but the proposals for a 12 storey towerblock are unreasonable. There are common sense changes that can be made. The Angel Way car park is designated for just 70 homes, yet residents here are going to face 170 with retail. 

Our ask is very simple, we want Havering Council and their developer to reduce the height of the Como street block and remove the retail, in order to protect people’s privacy and the character of the area. 

If we don’t get this right, then the council will be setting a precedence for yet more tall buildings right the way up North Street.”

Many of the gardens here, have been designed to encourage nature and our wildlife, now there is very little chance due to the noise, pollution and lack of space all around them.

Beautiful gardens blighted by tower blocks all around them.

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