A developer wants to demolish an electricity substation and build nine flats in its place, reports Nick Clark, Local Democracy Reporter

An electricity substation in Plaistow could be demolished for flats, according to proposals submitted to Newham Council.

The proposals suggest a developer is considering replacing two substation buildings in Surrey Street with a five-storey block of “up to nine flats”.

Details of the plans are included in an ‘application for permission in principle’ listed on the council’s planning website last Friday (20th).

This is not a full application for planning permission, but seeks to confirm whether the council considers the site to be suitable for flats.

As such, the proposals do not include detailed designs, which would have to be submitted and approved as part of a subsequent planning application.

However a planning statement says the building would be part-four and part-five storeys high.

It says this “would not present as abnormal” within its surroundings. The site is directly opposite a new five-storey block of flats in Prince Regent Lane. There are also two other four-storey blocks of flats in Surrey Street.

The planning statement also says the new building would not include any communal immenity space, but suggests it could include balconies.

However the statement argues that residents may not mind having no amenity space.

It says: “The relatively small unit size of the proposed flats and the busy urban location of the application site would be most likely to appeal to occupiers who are likely to be ambivalent about having access to on-site communal amenity space.”

Details published on the council’s planning portal don’t reveal the identity of the applicant, and are pending consideration. They are available to view using reference number 26/00376/FUL.

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