New Malden petrol station plan runs out of gas (From Surrey Comet)

New Malden petrol station plan runs out of gas

6:40am Friday 26th February 2010 in News By Omar Oakes

New Malden petrol station plan runs out of gas

New Malden residents claimed a hard-fought victory, after a major house builder suffered a double-blow to its plans to replace a derelict petrol station with flats.

This week both of Barratt Homes’ planning applications for the Kingston Road site failed, with each promising to provide new flats and an underground car park.

On Friday, the Government’s Planning Inspector threw out a first application for flats and a day care centre, which was rejected by Kingston Council last year.

Just hours before a second application was due to be considered by the council on Wednesday, it was withdrawn after being given the thumbs-down by planning officers because the scheme promised no affordable housing.

Campaigner Anchal Grewal, whose house is directly next to the site, said: “I am pleased the Planning Inspectorate has shown large developers cannot justify building to great densities at the expense of harm to existing residents.”

The latest application was condemned by New Malden councillors as a “monstrous” plan that would be an “insult to Kingston Council”.

Mayor of Kingston Councillor Ian McDonald said: “This is not building homes for local people. This is about building the slums of tomorrow, not the homes of today.”

Barratt Homes have now submitted four failed applications to redevelop the site but have refused to admit defeat.

A spokesman said: “As a result of not having sufficient time to address the outstanding issue in the officer’s report, we decided to withdraw the application to allow for further discussion.”