A new three-to-five-storey building housing 79 student bedrooms plus retail space in Penrhyn Road has been approved by councillors.

The plans, scaled down from 114 rooms in a structure of up to seven storeys, will also see 10 rooms created inside the existing building at 73 Penrhyn Road.

Developer Ensco redesigned the building after being rebuffed by Kingston Council’s development control committee in February, and said a hotline would be created for residents to call in case of disturbances.

Spokesman Alex Creevy said the extra accommodation was “much needed”.

Eight letters of objection to the plans detailed complaints including pollution, increased parking demand, public nuisance and development density. Eleven letters of support were sent.

Kingston University, which prefers developers to build “cluster” accommodation – where students share a kitchen and other facilities – said the plans went some way towards meeting their guidance.

A second application, heard at the development control committee on Tuesday, to erect a mixed-use building including 31 homes on the site of the former Sir Robert Peel pub, was withdrawn.

Councillors chose to defer a third scheme due to concerns about the mass and shape of the proposed building.

Developers hoped to demolish the petrol station in Coombe Road, New Malden, and create 26 new homes.