Plans to build 20 flats on the site of a former car park have been given the green light by the council.

Waltham Forest Council granted permission to build two four-storey blocks containing 20 flats in Essex Close, Walthamstow, at a planning committee meeting last week.

The development, which will be delivered by council-owned company Sixty Bricks, will provide 50 per cent affordable housing – 72 per cent affordable rent and the rest, shared ownership.

The 0.145 hectares site, which is currently hoarded off, was used as a car park by Essex Close residents up until 2015.

The site is currently in use as open yard storage space and temporary office accommodation.

The western edge of the site is also currently used by residents as an “informal” parking area.

During the public consultation, residents raised concerns the loss of the space would increase parking pressures in the area.

However, the council said since the part of the site used for parking was not a “formal” parking spot it did not consider it “reasonable” for the loss of parking space “to prejudice the proposed development”.

The council did recognise that parking spaces in Essex Close were “limited”.