People living in a suburban block of flats hit out at plans to build extra floors on top of their properties.

Residents of Avalon Close in Highlands warned the scheme – designed to create eight more flats – would affect their privacy, light and outlook, as well as put their health and wellbeing at risk.

Officers from Enfield Council had recommended giving the green light to an application submitted, according to council documents, by Mr Ozcan Hassan, to add a part-third, part-fourth floor to the existing blocks.

They said the council had already approved a similar scheme at nearby Hansart Way, so it would be hard to justify turning down the current application.

But on Tuesday (February 4), the planning committee threw out the plans after hearing objections from neighbours who stood to be affected by the scheme.

Avalon Close resident Jo Kernot told councillors: “The submitted plans will result in the removal of our bathroom windows and increased noise from new neighbours alongside and above our properties.

“The siting of the windows and walls alongside our homes and balconies will be such that our light, outlook and privacy will be compromised.

“Approving these plans would remove all of the reasons roof residents chose to purchase their properties.

“I ask the committee, how would you feel if someone decided they would build on top of your home and all around it, removing your view, privacy, quiet, light – even your bathroom window?”

Ms Kernot added residents’ health and wellbeing would be put at risk by the construction work, which would create noise, dust and pollution.

Another resident, Sally Mantell, said: “Residents, particularly those close to the living wage, are seriously worried about any increase in service charges resulting from additional maintenance costs.

“Can the council, in all conscience, price people out of their own homes?

“The nature of the planning application, and its process, has already caused the residents considerable anxiety. Approval would result in physical, mental and economic distress.”

The application would normally have been decided by council officers but was referred to the planning committee by Highlands ward’s Conservative councillors Joanne Laban, Lee David-Sanders and Glynis Vince.

Cllr David-Sanders reiterated the concerns of residents over the loss of privacy, light and outlook they believed would result from the development.

He told the meeting the finished scheme would look more suited to a town centre than the mainly suburban Highlands neighbourhood.

Committee chairman Cllr Mahmut Aksanoglu (Labour, Southbury) called for a representative of the applicant to speak in support of the plans, but no-one did so.

Cllr Mike Rye (Conservative, Town) said: “I don’t think this has been well thought-through. It is essentially just trying to cash in and create some extra units on top to make some profit.

“It is not fair on the residents who presently live there, and I frankly don’t think it’s workable.”

When it came to the vote, two councillors voted in favour of the scheme, with three against and four abstentions.

  • A previous version of this article indicated Capita was the developer. Capita has since confirmed it is the developer’s agent.