A controversial plan to build a new housing estate in a Surbiton conservation area comes before Kingston council’s Development Control Committee tonight (Wednesday).

You can view the debate on the proposal on the council’s YouTube channel here at www.tinyurl.com/y88gm87r

The meeting starts at 7.30pm. A recording will also be available to watch later.

Anne Ivison of the Southborough Residents’ Association, a group which aims to preserve and improve the character of the conservation area, said: “The Southborough Conservation Area is a key heritage asset and so the DCC’s decision on this application has significant implications for the future.”

The original plan for nine detached and semi-detached homes to be built on the site of a large Tudor-style property in Corkran Road which was destroyed during a fire over four years ago, was thrown out by Surbiton Neighbourhood councillors in November last year because of concerns about overdevelopment and that the new homes would be out of keeping with the others in the conservation area.

Road safety, access to the development, tree loss and preservation, and the loss of habitat for bats, badgers and other wildlife were also issues.

Now the proposal is back on the table with some revisions to layout and access. An additional property (16 & 16a) which is next to the original site would be demolished and incorporated into the estate allowing for all the four to five bedroom homes to be detached under the new plan by Ascot Design (pictured).