A BATTLE to rid a community of "a blot on the landscape" has ended in success.

Sidcup's Royal Park Residents' Association was set up nearly two years ago with the aim of ridding the neighbourhood of a derelict parade of shops.

Now Pocket Living, the new owner of Norman Parade, Maylands Drive, Albany Park, has been given the go-ahead to redevelop the buildings for new homes.

Chairman of the residents' association, Helen Cash, told last week's Bexley Council planning committee the Royal Park area was like a self-contained village.

She said: "Norman Parade is perceived by people as a blot on the landscape at the heart of our area."

She said the parade at been allowed by the previous owner to deteriorate to such an extent it was having a knock-on effect on the rest of Royal Park.

"We have a youth disorder problem and at night the parade attracts youths who hang around.

"It is a mess and what message does that give to young people about their area?"

She said all the residents she had spoken to backed the redevelopment.

"We are proud of our neighbourhood and this will supply a range of new homes."

Pocket Living was refused planning permission in August to develop the site for flats but has now scaled down its plans to comply with councillors' wishes.

As a result of consultations with residents, the company has kept one shop, whose lease will be offered to the only shopkeeper left in the existing parade.

Ward councillor Joel Briant criticised the previous Tory council for not forcing the Parade's past owner to act.

He says working with officers, current ward councillors had put pressure on the former owner over rats and rubbish on the site and the state of a dangerous wall which had to be demolished.

Cllr Briant paid tribute to former residents' association chairman Sarah Carlisle for her work to get the issue resolved.

He said: "It isn't a perfect scheme but I just want the parade demolished as soon as possible and something in its place."

Other councillors said the actions of the previous owner had been a disgrace and voted unanimously for redevelopment.