The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames has rejected Berkeley Group’s 586-home residential scheme despite it being recommended for approval by the planning inspector.
The scheme would have involved the demolition of the Motspur Park gasholders station in New Malden and the construction of five new blocks ranging from eight to 16 storeys. Of the new homes, around 174 would have been affordable.
Plans also included a new public square, pedestrian and cycle routes and 89 car parking spaces.
The council’s planning committee rejected the development on a 10-to-one vote due to its mass, height and scale, as well as the potential harm it could cause to the surrounding area and the clash of character with the surrounding area.
Berkeley chair Rob Perrins said: “It is deeply concerning that plans to build more than 580 much‑needed homes on a brownfield site next to a train station have been refused, despite the council’s own planning officers recommending approval.
“This is happening during a severe housing crisis in London and despite the government’s and Greater London Authority’s commitment to increase homebuilding rates in the city, which have fallen to historic lows. Decisions like this will undermine confidence in our planning system unless there is decisive action to put them right.”
Last week, the group reaffirmed its pre-tax profit guidance of £450m for the year and a similar level for 2027 in a trading update covering 1 November to the end of February.
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