The information has come to light after disgruntled constituents in and around Brandville Gardens entered a series of requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI).
The requests were made by Ville & Leafe Residents Association (VLRA), which was set up overnight to fight the plans to tear away land from the Stratford Newtown Wesleyan Sports Ground to make way for more than 100 new homes.
VLRA also launched a petition to gain support for its cause, which has now garnered more than 3,000 signatures.
Emails returned in the FOI revealed how the council took payment of more than £30,000 for a series of pre-application planning advice meetings with the developer Stonebond.
The advice given to the developer was one for a new allotment site due to “a lot of demand”, but also because it would mutually benefit “forming
policies on encouraging food growing in the London”.
Other email chains revealed that some council workers were left questioning the acceptability of the plans, raising issues concerning clashes with the local plan.
One email from the same principal planner confirmed that the “proposal is in conflict with policy as it stands”.
The council’s head of planning and building control was found to also have raised issues with the plan to help guide the developer.
They wrote: “At first sight it’s a little surprising to see protected open space being released for housing – is there a particular reason we feel we should be releasing this site (?)”
VLRA has called the emails “deeply concerning”, and have branded Stonebond’s community engagement effort as “superficial in nature”.
Ayesha Armin, speaking on behalf of the VLRA, claims there has been one sole public engagement event held in June last year.
The lack of public consultation the group claims has been “a deliberate attempt to minimise and deflect public engagement, despite in the council’s own words, the ‘prominence’ of this proposed development.”
It comes after planning officers warned in discussions that pre-application public consultation would be “essential to ‘break’ this scheme to the local people”.
These discussions are understood to have taken place over several years before the plans were officially submitted in August last year.
It is the VLRA’s strong feeling that the site should be saved and brought back into public use, as it had been in previous years, particularly when considering other large-scale developments nearby such as the Little Gearies estate.
For many in the VLRA, this process has been one that can only been described as similar to opening “Pandora’s box”, consuming all aspects of their lives.
Ayesha, who has lived in the area for five years, said: “This has caused us a lot of harm as a community.
“There’s lots of challenges that we have experienced in our personal lives.
“I haven’t been able to have a life really for the last seven months. This is not just about one development—it is about transparency, fairness, and the integrity of our local planning process.”
For them, the site is a “little piece of heaven on Earth” where they have shared fond memories of listening to birdsong from the centuries old trees and watching bats and wild rabbits thrive.
Jeffrey Turner, a resident of 32 years, says he fears if the plans are approved the area will begin to mirror a “21st century slum”.
He told the Recorder: “I feel anxious, exhausted and extremely disillusioned with Redbridge Council.
“From information gathered through FOI…it raises serious concerns about the impartiality and competence of council officers.
“Once lost, this valuable open space will be lost forever, and the spread of Redbridge’s ‘high rise hell’ will continue to the point they have created a 21st century slum.”
Jeffrey’s feelings have been echoed closely by John Cowell, who has spent 52 years living near the site.
He said: “It is the last thing I wanted in my retirement. I hate to admit it but it has caused my GP some concern with regards to my health as a direct result of the disregard from the council of the wellbeing of residents who put them in office to supposedly safeguard the residents’ interests. It’s a disgrace.”
The residents have been clear in their understanding of and “fully acknowledge” the need for new housing, but wish to see this undertaken on more suitable brownfield sites rather than green open space.
A Redbridge Council spokesperson said: “The council has not yet decided to approve or refuse the planning application to redevelop the former Stratford Newtown Wesleyan Sports Ground in Barkingside. The planning committee will make that decision at a public meeting in due course.
“Residents will have further opportunities to write to the council, stating their views on the planning application. They will also have a chance to make verbal representations to the committee at the public meeting.
We also approached Stonebond for its reaction to the outrage.
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A spokesperson said: “We’ve worked closely with the local authority to follow their requirements and guidance for engaging statutory consultees, ward members and the local community.
“With more than 8,000 people waiting for an affordable home in the borough, we believe bringing forward plans for a 100 per cent affordable housing development can only be a good thing, as it would make a significant contribution to the area’s crippling shortage of affordable homes.”
A decision is expected to be made on the outcome of the planning application on April 24.
Ilford North MP Wes Streeting met with campaigners but did not respond to a request for comment.
