A former trading estate in East Molesey is to be transformed into a new housing development after plans were given the green light last week.

The new development - which will provide 95 new homes – will include a mix of one to five bedroom properties, with 40 per cent of the homes allocated as "much-need" affordable housing at the Imber Court Trading Estate in Orchard Lane.

The plans - originally submitted in 2015 by Cala Homes and approved at the meeting of the East Area Planning Sub-Committee last Monday, April 3 - had received a number of objections from residents.

Surrey Comet:

How the new houses along the River Ember will look (pic: CALA homes)

Complaints included loss of privacy and landscape, with a potential harm to wildlife, as well as raising design and density concerns, due to the materials being used deemed out of character with the area.

In response to this, Cala Homes have been advised by councillors that using a mixed palette of materials is considered more suitable for the development rather than a single brick colour across the whole scheme.

Residents also raised concerns over the increased traffic and parking that will come with the development, on what is described as a "predominantly residential road", including the increased pressure on local services and infrastructure.

The three-hectare site currently compromises seven industrial and storage units – most of which falls within a flood zone – although the site is considered to be situated on a ‘dry island’.

Vice chairman of the East Area Planning Sub-Committee, Karen Randolph, said: “We have a very limited amount of brownfield land which can be developed in Elmbridge, so when one comes up we need to look into redevelopment.

“We do desperately need houses of that size and we need more affordable housing, so this development meets many of Elmbridge’s needs for the area.”

A spokeswoman for homebuilder Cala Homes has described the development as being “set around generous landscaped squares and green spaces with views towards the River Ember.”

Caroline Green, Planning and Design Manager at CALA Homes (Thames), said: “We’re delighted to be bringing these much-needed homes to East Molesey and look forward to starting work on site in later in spring.”