A FORMER post office building could be knocked down and replaced with retirement housing.

In October 2016 proposals to raze the vacant delivery office on Loughton High Street were rejected by Epping Forest District Council following uproar from the town council and a nearby Methodist Church.

Now developers Loughton High Road are back with a new, slightly altered application.

Thirty flats have become 29 and the height of the proposed building significantly reduced by removing a storey.

If approved, 17 one bed and 12 two bed apartments will provide accommodation for over 55s.

A communal garden, upper terrace and 20 parking paces are also included in the plans.

The application reads: “The provision of specialised accommodation for the elderly would also provide other benefits to the community and local economy as a whole.

“A significant benefit to the town from the scheme would however be the intended elderly residents themselves.

“If approved, the development once fully occupied, is likely to accommodate some 28 -40 residents who given their age are likely to use the shopping and other facilities of the nearby local shops on a regular basis.”