A proposed 100 per cent affordable housing development in West Molesey with 86 homes has been recommended for refusal ahead of a decisive council meeting tonight.

The two to three storey block development at Imperial House in Pool Road is proposed to consist of 70 flats and eight pairs of semi-detached two storey houses, each comprising of three bedrooms.

Under the plans industrial buildings Britannia House and Columbia House, which have been vacant since 2012, would be demolished to make way for the new homes.

Landscaping and up to 90 parking spaces would also be created under the planning application submitted by HP (West Molesey) Ltd, Alderson Print Group Ltd and Elmbridge Housing Trust.

But in her report planning officer Christine Ellera says the site is located on “strategic employment land”.

Ms Ellera added: “The proposed development would remove a significant proportion of this strategically important site and reduce the potential opportunities for further redevelopment of the estate and its long terms commercial viability.”

The development could sway councillors tonight at the north area planning committee at Elmbridge’s Civic Centre, as according to plans it would consist of 100 per cent affordable housing, with an extra 52 affordable homes “above a policy compliant scheme”.

The report report added that “officers agree that this is one of the only positive attributes of the scheme, which would be of benefit to the community” as it would “meet and address part of the council’s need for such development”.

However, along with 22 objections including one petition, Ms Ellera’s report concluded that an “undesirable erosion” of employment land, a “cramped overdevelopment” and an absence of a completed legal agreement to build residential housing, were reasons for her recommendation for refusal.

The application will go before the planning committee tonight at the Elmbridge Civic Centre in Esher at 7.45pm.

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