Fears are mounting that the main road through Hampton's roads could become more congested after 3,000 new homes could be built in nearby Sunbury. 

The owners of Kempton Park racecourse, the Jockey Club, announced today they want to bulldoze it to make way for up to 3,000 new homes.

An application to redevelop the site, in conjunction housebuilder Redrow Homes, will be submitted to Spelthorne Borough Council, the Jockey Club said.

It follows Spelthorne Council’s ‘call for sites’ to meet local housing needs, as well as a decision to review Green Belt land boundaries.

The Jockey Club described this as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to promote its Kempton Park site for new homes.

There are fears the extra housing – and vehicles – will put nearby Hampton’s roads under increased pressure, specifically the A308.

Surrey Comet:

The A308 runs from Sunbury through to Hampton and Kingston 

The road runs from Kingston to Hampton, on to Sunbury Cross.

Councillor Peter Buckwell, Richmond's cabinet member for highways, said the council would monitor the application because it was "very concerned" about the impact on Hampton's road and rail infrastructure.

Spelthorne councillor for Sunbury Common Ian Beardsmore said it would be "as devastating for Hampton as it is for Sunbury".

Cllr Beardsmore said: "The road to Hampton High Street is already bad. You can't guarantee all the cars from the extra 3,000 homes will all go Sunbury Cross.

"Some will turn and go to Hampton Court Palace, and then the road will get congested.

"I can't see any way how they could make this sustainable. It's already overloaded as it is.

"There will be an infrastructure shortfall." 

Alan Doyle, a member of the Keep Kempton Green group, said local health and education infrastructure could be pressured as well.

Mr Doyle said: "At rush hour the A308 is rammed. You just can't move at rush hour.

"But apart from the roads, this means there will be extra pressure on health centres, and school places."

The Jockey Club said it would invest £500million into British horseracing, but it would need to fund it through its "diverse commercial operations" and development on its estate at Kempton Park.

Racing will continue at Kempton Park while the application process is underway, and the Jockey Club will also make "major investments", said by the club to be a "multi-million pound" cash injection, into nearby Sandown Park racecourse in Esher.

Julian Larkin, group planning director at Redrow Homes, said: "Being one of the largest sites in (Spelthorne) borough it could also sustain approximately four years of the borough’s housing need, whilst generating significant contributions to local infrastructure, from improvements to the local road networks, a new school, health facilities and a significant boost to employment.”

Richmond Council's opposition leader, Liberal Democrat Gareth Roberts, described the announcement as "incredibly alarming".

Cllr Roberts said: "If the Jockey Club thinks local residents will take this lying down they're in for one heck of a shock. I sincerely hope Spelthorne rejects the proposals in their entirety."

A Spelthorne Borough Council spokesman said: "Spelthorne Borough Council is preparing a new local plan for the Borough which will need to balance many competing demands including protecting areas of importance.

"As part of this work it has recently issued a ‘call for sites’ enabling those who have ideas where development might go to put them forward. This is a statutory requirement.

"In response to this Kempton Park Racecourse and Redrow Homes have jointly proposed the closure of the Racecourse and building of 3,000 homes."