The sites of four public car parks have now been officially earmarked by Havering Council for housing developments.

A decision was approved last week by Mark Butler, assistant director of regeneration and place shaping, that the car parks at Como Street and Angel Way in Romford, and Dorrington Gardens and Keswick Avenue in Hornchurch will be appropriated for planning purposes.

A signed document of the decision published by the council said that the purpose of the appropriation is “to enable the council to override all rights in the land that could act as a constraint to the development of the land, subject to conditions”.

Romford Recorder: Como Street car park in RomfordComo Street car park in Romford (Image: Google Street)

It explained that the car parks are no longer required because they are under-used and the aim is to have a better use of the land that can help the council meet its housing targets and reduce its waiting list backlog for 'affordable' homes.

Read More: Sale of Romford car park to developer not yet finalised, meeting told

Public notices for their disposal were published in the Recorder on November 17 and November 24 last year, and the council received 81 representations in response.

The council has claimed that some of these were positive and acknowledged that the redevelopment will have a “regenerative effect” on the disused sites.

Romford Recorder: Keswick Avenue car park in HornchurchKeswick Avenue car park in Hornchurch (Image: Google Street)Several concerns were raised by residents during the consultation regarding loss of parking facilities, the impact on town centre businesses, and the pressure the new residential units will put on existing doctors, schools, roads, police and other services.

The council report revealed that a total of 88 per cent of all respondents reacted negatively, while only 12pc were in favour of their disposal.

The authority said that each of these projects will need a planning consent and most of the objections raised will be subject to further consultation and consideration on planning grounds in the future.

The revenue from the sale of the car parks and two other sites to council-owned company Mercury Land Holdings is expected to earn the authority £8.69m as the council continues to face a multi-million pound budget gap.