Plans to build more than 400 flats in the carpark next to New Malden's Tesco have been rejected.

At a planning application meeting last week, Merton councillors voted to deny homebuilder Redrow the ability to build 456 homes - of which 40% would have been deemed as 'affordable' - despite the case officer recommending they be approved.

Last year Redrow conditionally exchanged contracts with supermarket chain on the 1.2-acre parcel of land.

At the time, Mark Parker, managing director at Redrow east London said the two blocks, ranging in height from seven storeys to 15, would see the land transformed into a "vibrant mixed-use community."

But these plans were met with outrage, not least so by the local ward councillors.

West Barnes councillor and Lib Dem, Eloise Bailey, who spoke against the plans at last week's meeting said: “We want to thank all the residents who wrote to us and the council about these plans, and all those who came to the meeting.

“Cllr Bokhari and I both spoke out against the completely inappropriate heights given the area and the impact of the development on residents. We were pleased to be heard."

But now she has called for further provisions to be put in place to prevent similar applications being pushed through in the future.

“To stop equally bad proposals in the future, we now want the Council to create a formal “planning brief” for the site," she added.

"This should set out appropriate building heights for the area, and should include assessments on the impact on local schools, GP surgeries and other services that would result from building flats on the site."

If permission had been granted, it would have seen the demolition of the buildings at 265 Burlington Road and 300 Beverley Way.