Plans to demolish a huge part of Kingston town centre and turn it into a shopping metropolis were approved by councillors tonight.

Kingston Council's development control committee agreed with British Land and USS’ vision for almost 400 new homes plus 18,000 sqm of retail space, leisure facilities and offices in Eden Walk.

Councillors Lorraine Rolfe, Patricia Bamford and Rebekah Moll voted against the proposal.

The approval of the plans came despite 171 objections from residents and some businesses in the area, including Sainsbury’s.

Surrey Comet:

Objectors particularly argued against no affordable housing in the plans, the new modern building not fitting in with the “heritage of the town” and the “excessive scale and mass” of the development.

Instead of affordable housing, developers will offer 38 “starter homes” at a discounted price and give the council £1.6m upfront.

A further £1.4m will be paid to the council after the developers make 15 per cent profit from sales of the 380 homes and then profits will be split equally between the council and the developer.

Project director Mathew Secker said developers had scaled back the mass and height of the building as much as possible.

He said: “This is a watershed moment, one that will define the future success of Kingston town centre just as the application for the Bentall Centre or main line railway did.”

Councillor Jack Cheetham came out in support of the plans. 

He said: "This is regeneration that some towns can only dream about."

He added that the development would bring 600 new jobs to the borough, as well as much needed housing.

All three town centre councillors asked for the proposals to be rejected.

Conservative Phil Doyle said: “Eden Walk is a site that is ready for development. But I am asking you to refuse the application in its present form.

"It does not pass the Kingston test. Kingston can do better than this.

"The height and mass are such that it will dominate the skyline. It will not so much dominate the town centre, but will become the town centre.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Jon Tolley, who also owns Banquet Records in Eden Street, added the developer should provide affordable housing.

He said: “You don't feed a starving nation by providing a banquet for the rich.”