Geoff Seeff, who lives nearby in Parkland Road, knows how much the fire-closed Londis store, in Horn Lane, is missed by local residents.

Geoff reports that “Knowing how valued the store is the Focus Team have been keeping an eye on progress to its re-opening.’

Evidently there were some delays while the owner negotiated with his insurance company over repairing the property. This was complicated by the decision to expand the living space. There were also negotiations with Redbridge Planning over the extension of living space over the shop.

Planning approval for rebuilding was finally given on March 10th. It is a condition that the shop space is retained on the ground floor.

So now the work can begin and the shop should reopen soon.