Cllr Ron Ower

The site of a former hall in Upminster will be turned in to nine new houses.

Developers were granted permission to turn the old Boyd Hall, in St Mary’s Lane, into housing at the regulatory services committee meeting on Thursday of last week.

The council had received four letters of opposition to the scheme, outlining concerns including that there would be problems on St Mary’s Lane stemming from its entrance.

One resident spoke against the plan at the meeting, calling on the committee to take issues into account including the fact that there were old trees on the site, which would be affected by the plan.

But a spokesman for the applicant said that, apart from two trees which will be saved, the others affected were mainly old and towards the end of their lives anyway.

Committee member Cllr Ron Ower (Residents’ Association, Upminster) said: “We really regret that the old Boyd Hall has been lost, it was one of the first place I went to when I came to the borough forty years ago.

“The plans I’ve seen will enhance the area. To leave it vacant is just a crying shame.”

The application – for two five bed, and seven four bed houses – was passed unanimously.