Planning permission has been granted for 97 new homes in Walton.

Elmbridge Council gave Bellway the go-ahead for the development on the Rivernook Farm site, which includes two, three and four-bedroom homes, 16 per cent of which will be “social rented”.

There were 11 objections on the application from people in the area and no comments of support.

Concerns raised included loss of privacy, impact on the environment, and an “inevitable” noise increase in a “quiet and peaceful” area.

One Sunnyside resident said: “This development will completely change the quiet and peaceful nature of the area.

“This volume of new housing will also dramatically increase the volume of traffic in what has already become an area regularly strangled by the number of cars queuing back from the town centre.

“97 new dwellings will more than likely involve well in excess of 97 new vehicles.”

Concerns were also raised about plans to cuts down trees around the site.

There are plans to remove all the trees along the boundary between the site and homes.

After seeing the plans, a Waterside Drive resident said: “This will completely open our property up.

“These trees are habitat for a large number of birds, I am out late at night during our lambing season and am amazed by the amount of barn owl activity around those trees.”

Bellway has been contacted for comment on these issues.

Construction work will begin at Sunnyside soon, with the first homes expected to be up for sale in spring 2018.

Bellway bought the land from Angle Property this year, which had plans to build 83 homes on the site.

Bellway increased this by 14, which some have described as “unacceptable”.

However, the company’s regional director for its south division, Nathan Stevenson, said the development will provide “much-needed new homes”.

He added: “The apartments and smaller properties here have been designed to suit first-time buyers and young professionals, while the larger homes will be perfect for families looking to settle in the area.

“We’re committed to helping meet demand for new homes in the area, and are looking forward to seeing the development start to take shape over the next few months.”