Residents and councillors grilled developers as they presented their “masterplan” for building more than 700 homes on Tolworth’s Toby Jug site.

Surrey Comet:

The plans are similar to those submitted by previous owners Tesco

European Investment firm Meyer Bergman presented their proposals to build 705 homes in the Toby Jug site in Hook Rise South near Tolworth station, as well as a doctors surgery, nursery, convenience store and 356 car parking spaces.

The plans were presented at a development control committee pre-decision meeting at the Guildhall on Wednesday, February 17.

The application is similar to that pursued by supermarket chain Tesco - the previous owners of the site – who struggled to gain planning permission for almost a decade after fierce opposition from residents.

Monday, February 15: Dancing in the Street Street? Toby Jug developers “considering” tribute to David Bowie in plans

Friday, October 23: New buyer confirms it will push ahead with Tesco's 700 home plan in Tolworth

Friday, October 9: Buyer revealed: Tolworth Tesco land bought by European "retail specialists"

Objecting the plans, Vicky Harris, of Hook Rise South, said: “This is totally, totally out of character with the character of the area, it’s not sub urban, it’s urban.

“I don’t see how it’s appropriate to build towers.”

Questions raised by residents and councillors ranged from the provision of affordable housing, congestion around the site and the “impact of the character of the area”.

Architect Jonathan Collins, who has worked on the proposals for the last four years, said: “Really the character of the area is a flat, vacant site.

“This is the masterplan we have here. Our intention here is to create a site which has an attractive, safe and quiet street for the public to walk through.”

Working with Transport for London the developers estimated that construction would see an increase in peak hour morning car journeys of 175 and 165 in the evening.

Developers also accepted that while parking was a “contentious issue” they were open to compromising on the plan to build parking spaces for roughly only half of the homes.

Councillor and former cabinet member for housing Patricia Bamford criticised the eight space car park for the doctor’s surgery and surrounding areas as “inadequate”.

Jamie Pearson, director of Meyer Homes, said: “We recognise that the Toby Jug site is a fantastic opportunity. We are very much looking forward to delivering for Tolworth if we get permission.”

A decision on the application will be made at the development control committee meeting on Wednesday, March 2.