More than 740 homes, which fall within a Bromley-by-Bow conservation area, along with offices and restaurant space have been given the go-ahead.

The plans to redevelop land, at Hancock Road and Three Mills Lane were approved by the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation overseeing the area at the Old Town Hall in Stratford last Thursday. The plans also include a proposed bus bridge over the River Lea linking the two areas.

The site is partly located within the Three Mills Conservation Area and is next to the Grade I listed House Mill.

Around 35 per cent of the homes, across blocks three to nine storeys high, will be so-called affordable housing.

The plans by East Thames Group and Southern Housing Group also include a include a nine-storey high car dealership, along with residents car parking. The plans were scaled down about previously being rejected.

Speaking against the plans were Bromley-by Bow resident Grenvile Mills, 66, who described himself as a “lone voice” because of the lack of consultation he said there had been about the plans.

The retired financial consultant said: “Ninety-nine percent of the people I talked to don’t know anything about it.”

He also told the committee there was a “dreadful lack of schools” to support the new residents.

Referring to the scheme’s architecture he described the blocks as “insignificant”. “It high rises does not reflect the conservation area,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the two housing associations regional development manager Martina Kennedy defended the plans saying: “We are planning to use a type of brick which reflects the Victorian industrial warehouse look of the area.”

She said they had held two exhibitions which saw mostly residents from nearby Island House object to the plans.

The site adjourns the land known as Bromley-by-Bow South whose future hangs in the balance after plans by Tesco to redevelop it into a district centre featuring a new supermarket, homes, a school, retail units and open space were halted.

It came after the Secretary of State decided not to confirm the compulsory purchase of land needed for the scheme.