A developer has come back with a third attempt to demolish a wedding shop and a pet shop to make way for flats and houses.

Havering Council received the latest planning application from developer Victoria Road Romford on March 25, after initial bids for 21 and then 15 homes failed.

It sets out plans to redevelop the Twins Wedding Shop and Wet Pets at 67-71 Victoria Road, Romford into six flats and three terraced houses.

The application is a third attempt by the developer, whose last proposal to build 15 homes on the site was turned down in January.

The site, which has a large car park area at the back, is on a corner plot at the junction of the A1251 and Victoria Road.

Echoing previous applications, the new proposal says the site is currently under-used, featuring "poor quality" buildings and with an ill-defined character.

It states the redevelopment will optimise the use of brownfield land, provide high-quality homes in a sustainable location and enhance the appearance of local area, on a site with good public transport links and a low probability of flooding.

A petition was launched in July 2022 to save the shops from redevelopment.

Rejecting the previous plans, the council stated the scheme would result in a "cramped" development that would have "unacceptable" impact on nearby 1 Corbridge Mews.

In addition, the previous plan lacked amenity space, provided poor light for units on the ground floor and failed to achieve sustainable measures with respect to climate change.

A similar proposal to construct 23 homes, submitted in August 2021, was also rejected by the council as the five-storey building would have affected those living in Jane Court to the east of the site.

The developer has now reduced the number of homes to nine to address these concerns. The layout has been reconfigured to accommodate greener features such as a sustainable drainage system.

There would also be a car and cycle parking space, refuse storage and more amenity space.

The council is due to decide on the plans by May 22, 2023.  The planning application can be found on the council's website by searching reference P0487.23 in the planning section.