East Molesey residents could be set to fight off yet another housing development on protected sports land as a luxury housing developer set out proposals for the plot at a community meeting last week.

Developer Langham Homes, in association with the Pavilion Club in Hurst Lane, set up the meeting with residents on November 28 to showcase its plans for a new community to be built on existing pavilion land.

While an application is yet to be submitted to the council, plans drawn up for the site show a number of affordable and private homes adjacent to existing and new floodlit tennis courts.

A new fitness studio and spa area would also join the upgrades for the Pavilion Club, while a junior football pitch, children’s play area, nature area and new footpath link between the nearby Saint Lawrence Church of England School would also be set up as part of a new public open space amounting to 1.4 acres.

But a historic section 106 planning covenant, which states the land may not be used for anything other than recreational purposes, has prevented developers from building on the sports land in previous years.

In 2010, inspectors rejected an appeal by Bloor Homes, citing a failure to respect the local character of the area, the setting of St Paul’s Church and adequately mitigating the loss of recreational land.

Hurst Lane resident David Hockley, who campaigned against the Bloor Homes application, said: “Nothing’s changed apart from more overcrowding. They’re taking away our beautiful green land.”

Tony Pidgley, managing director of Langham Homes, said: “We were delighted by the turnout at our community planning morning.

“More than 100 people came along to see our early plans for the site and to engage with the project team.

“A key point of discussion was the substantial public open space and what facilities people would like to see.

“The site has been fenced off for years, but what we want to do is to open it up, giving over a third of it to community use.

“Residents were also keen to learn more about the style of homes we plan to deliver.

“We have a lot of valuable feedback to go through before we return with a second event in the new year.

“I would encourage anyone who didn’t have the chance to come along [to the November meeting] to get in contact and have their say.”

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