Residents will be asked for their seal of approval on plans to protect a Woodford Green estate from unsuitable development.

Part of the Monkhams Estate in Monkhams Lane was deemed worthy of conservation area status following a character appraisal in which the condition and structure of buildings were assessed.

Councillors at area committee two meeting at Sir James Hawkey Hall in Broomhill Road last week agreed to take the findings of the study to a six week long public consultation.

Monkhams ward Cllr Jim O’Shea said: “I think this is fantastic news and it’s long overdue.

“Ward councillors have been particularly keen on this and credit must be given to Michael Stark who was the front runner.

“With new more relaxed planning laws coming in it was important to protect the area while we are still able to do so.

“It’s not all done and dusted yet but the principle has been accepted and now it’s a question of fine tuning.”

The report complied by surveyors, which cost around �8,000, suggests designating the southern part of the estate as a conservation area as it “constitutes an exemplary example of Edwardian and is characteristic of the historic development of the borough.”

The remainder of the estate, built in 1914, will remain as a residential precinct which offers some protection but not at the level of a conservation area.

The report reads: “While this northern area constitutes a good example of interwar development it is not considered to be of sufficient special architectural or

historic interest (as required by Government guidance) to warrant increased protection.”

It adds that there are other pockets of high quality housing present but these are diluted by properties which have been altered and extended.