ABANDONED garages in Havering are set to be turned into homes after the committee gave the applications the green light at a council meeting.

At the regulatory services committee meeting on Thursday January 13, councillors agreed for the demolition of old garages and to construct new houses in their place in Bridgwater Road, Harold Hill, Turpin Avenue, Romford, Lodge Lane, Romford and Navarre Gardens, Romford.

The proposals for the site in Bridgwater Road, Harold Hill will see the the demolition of disused council owned garages and a row of three bedroom terraced houses to be built in their place.

After hearing a presentation about the application, Cllr Paul McGeary (Lab, Heaton) was concerned that the development would just add to the parking issues in the area.

He said: “The street parking at the moment is already a problem in that area so I think there is a possibility that this application could easily add to it.”

But the council officer explained that two parking spaces would be provided for all the houses.

Later in the meeting the council also gave the go ahead for the demolition of ten garages in Turpin Avenue, Romford and for two houses to be built in their place.

The plans include a pair of semi detached houses with similar character and design with a separate area at the back for refuse storage and to store bicycles.

In the application in Lodge Lane, Romford councillors ignored objections from resident Mr Constantinou and agreed for the demolition of 14 garages and the erection of two houses.

Mr Constantinou said: “The dimensions of the new houses and the new road would mean that I would have very little access to the garage space.”

The plans also include provision for bin storage, refuse collection and cycle storage facilities.

The committee also went on to agree the demolition of the existing ten garages and for the erection of two houses with parking in Navarre Gardens, Romford.