Chessington and New Malden are among the areas set for redevelopment including in Kingston town
A South London borough has been earmarked for nearly 20,000 new homes over 15 years.
Kingston Council has published the final draft of its new Local Plan to guide development in the borough from its expected adoption in 2028 until 2043. The plan allocates potential sites for development and the number of homes each could provide, if proposals to redevelop them were to come forward in future. Many of the sites are privately owned.
The plan has come forward after years of delay, with Kingston currently relying on an outdated strategy adopted in 2012.
The borough faces a “presumption in favour of sustainable development” as a result, which makes it far harder to refuse planning applications.
The final draft plan allocates stations and car parks for new housing, including 310 homes for Kingston Station, 175 homes on the western part of Surbiton Station Car Park and 105 homes for Tolworth Station.
A total of 300 homes are proposed for Cattle Market Car Park and around Fairfield Bus Station, along with 225 homes for Seven Kings Car Park and 175 homes for the Bentall Centre’s multi-storey car park.
It suggests improving Cromwell Road Bus Station and adding 90 homes to “establish a welcoming gateway” to Kingston town centre.
The plan allocates shopping centres and retail parades for potential redevelopment, including Eden Quarter with 645 homes, leisure facilities, a hotel and public spaces, and the 1960s Eden Walk Shopping Centre with 560 homes.
The John Lewis site on Wood Street is earmarked for potential redevelopment with 285 new homes, while keeping the main John Lewis department store, Waitrose and existing workspaces.
A total of 320 homes are proposed for the redevelopment of the Guildhall complex, which is the council’s headquarters, keeping the historic building and replacing the modern extension.
Cocks Crescent has been put forward for regeneration with a new public square in New Malden, surrounded by 255 new homes, better open spaces and improved links to New Malden High Street.
The plan says 360 homes could be provided by revamping or completely redeveloping Tolworth Tower, which is Kingston’s tallest building at 22 storeys.
A total of 585 homes are proposed for St John’s Industrial Estate, along with denser industrial units and workspaces.
The plan also earmarks sites for development on Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) and the green belt. This includes 405 homes overall on redundant areas of Hogsmill Sewage Treatment Works and 440 homes for Motspur Park gasholders, which are currently designated as MOL.
It earmarks green belt land in Chessington for development, with 1,440 new homes proposed on Clayton Road and 265 homes on the derelict former Chessington Golf Course.
A report on the draft plan said the council had reviewed its green belt boundaries as Kingston’s housing needs could not be met by only building on brownfield sites.
The report added: “Putting in place an up-to-date Local Plan will ensure that the council can proactively manage development across the borough, ensuring that we get the right mix of business and commercial space and housing to support thriving communities supported by the timely delivery of necessary infrastructure and community facilities.”
The council will vote on Monday (June 22) on publishing the final draft of the Local Plan for public consultation from July 6 to September 4.
The authority would then submit the draft to the Planning Inspectorate by December for examination and formal approval. This would allow the plan to be adopted by 2028.
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