Kingston Council has approved the use of £46.2million to regenerate the Cambridge Road Estate, but residents have expressed concerns about being made homeless during the development.

The use of £42.6million of housing zone funds from the Greater London Authority was authorised by the council's Growth Committee on September 28.

Councillor Terry Paton, deputy leader and cabinet member with responsibility for Cambridge Road Estate regeneration, said: “This is a hugely important step for the regeneration of the Cambridge Road Estate. We are set to deliver high quality homes and much-needed additional housing to the area, more than doubling the number of homes for local people from 830 to around 2,000.

“We’ve already done a lot of work behind the scenes to get this ambitious project off the ground, including launching our search for a joint venture partner to invest in, plan and deliver a great scheme for our Royal Borough with our residents.”

The sum is made of a £19.6million grant towards building new affordable homes, and a £26.6million loan for buying back the freehold and leasehold homes.

Earlier in September the council set out its policy for removing people from the estate, but residents’ groups have called in an item in the council’s ‘decant policy’.

This means the decision will be reconsidered at another meeting, and gives the council another chance to listen to the residents' concerns.

As it stands, people who are rehoused during the development will only be able to appeal to one person, according to Jill Preston, chairwoman of the One Norbiton group.

She said: “If he or she says no then there’s no way forward. They could end up homeless. It’s people’s lives we’re talking about.

“At the moment if you live on the estate and have a tenancy agreement and are having problems with a neighbour, the system is fairer to them than it will be to everyone during the development. We just want parity.”

More than 100 people signed the petition, and the item will be discussed again on October 17.

Ms Preston said: “We didn’t feel that the council was listening at all. Well, we’re saying if you don’t want to listen, we will make you listen. We are fed up of being pushed around.”