A Romford councillor has spoken of her delight after plans to demolish two shops and replace them with 15 flats have been refused. 

Victoria Road Romford Ltd had put in a request last summer to knock down the wedding shop Twins and aquarium and pond supplies business Wetpets on Victoria Road, and replace with what it described as a “high-quality residential development”.  

In response, one of the local ward councillors, Judith Holt (Con, St Alban’s), began a petition opposing the plans. She told the Recorder at the time that the current building is “unique” and part of Romford’s heritage, and that the shops are well loved in the area, providing a “great service for the community”. 

Planning officers at the council have since rejected the application, on grounds including the development would be “out of character” with the area, and that it was of “a poor quality in terms of its excessive site coverage of buildings and hard surfacing and poorly laid out amenity provision”. 

Cllr Holt said she is “delighted” to have heard the application was refused. 

“The plans were wholly unsuitable for the site and would have meant the destruction of two popular long-standing local businesses, plus the loss of another small part of Romford's history.” 

Debbie Herron, owner of Twins, added she was pleased when she learned of the decision. 

“We are just glad that it’s been refused, and hopefully we can stay here a bit longer,” she said. 

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Wetpets was contacted by the Recorder, though said it had no comment to add. 

Victoria Road Romford Ltd’s agent, High Consulting, was also approached. 

View the application on Havering Council’s planning portal using the reference P0970.22.