Blocks of flats in Shenfield could be about to go up in the world by gaining an extra storey.

The owners of Ardleigh Court in Hutton Road and Shorter Avenue want to put extra floors under new pitched roofs to create 24 new apartments.

The scheme is being put forward as a solution to a costly roofing problem as the flat roofs of the existing two-storey blocks need urgent temporary repairs and will have to be completely recovered in the near future.

The burden of repair costs falls to long leasehold tenants who have accepted an offer by the owners to re-roof the buildings at no cost with the proviso that an extra storey of flats can be created.

It will add 13 one-bedroom and 11 two-bedroom homes bringing the total to 100.

Circular steel columns will be erected on the outside of the buildings to support the proposed third floors. There will also be six new lift shafts.

Now the plans by The Carroll Group, of Howard House, Hutton Road, Shenfield, have been submitted to Brentwood Council for consideration.

A written statement by applicant's agent - JTS Partnership, of The Drive, Great Warley, said: "The proposals were promoted by the owners and accepted by the tenants in principle as a means to re-roofing the entire property at no cost to the tenants and at the same time generating income for widespread improvements to the estate."

But the proposals have come as a shock to some residents.

Ardleigh Court resident said Spencer Chatten said: "Some people here did not know anything about this until last week, although the plans submitted to the council are dated September 2002."

Published Friday, April 18, 2003

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