Tesco has submitted new plans for Tolworth that would see more than 700 homes built on former government land that has lain disused for more than a decade.

Your Local Guardian:

Spot the difference: Last year's proposals

The homes tally has been lowered to 705 from the firm's original proposals - 805 new homes - and the retail chain has also promised to build a doctor's surgery and nursery on the site.

Tesco has been forced to withdraw a series of redevelopment plans for Tolworth over the years, after residents and politicians resolutely refused to accept a new superstore just off the roundabout.

Its latest scheme, called King George's Gate, would also include:

  • A 262 sq m convenience store plus cafe
  • Leisure facilities
  • Money to expand nearby Knollmead Primary School
  • Extension of the 281 bus route and a new interchange at Tolworth station
  • Widening of Hook Rise South
  • 350 parking spaces

One of the most controversial aspects of the initial proposal, revealed to residents at consultation meetings last October, was a 23-storey block of flats.

That has been reduced to 18 storeys, at a height of 55m, in the plans submitted to Kingston Council.

The homes will range in size from one to four bedrooms.

A spokesman for Tesco's planning consultants, Spenhill, said: "We believe these proposals will create a highly desirable place to live, provide a new neighbourhood of which Tolworth can be proud and make a vital contribution to meeting the Royal Borough’s growing housing need.

"We received valuable feedback on the proposals and a considerable amount of work has been undertaken by our consultancy team to incorporate these comments into the scheme we have submitted."

Anil Jasani, who runs the Broadway Bar, said: "It should boost up the trade for the small businesses, and should bring more people here.

"With the extra housing, if people come to this area, it’s going to put Tolworth on the map."

Tolworth and Hook Rise councillor Vicki Harris said: "I still think it looks horrible.

"We will just end up looking like inner London and that’s not what Tolworth is all about.

"Yes, they’ve brought it down a few storeys but that’s still totally alien in that location."

Coun Harris said she was concerned at the "cumulative impact" of the potential 705 new homes alongside the redevelopment of Tolworth Tower.

She added: “The roads just won’t cope."

Your Local Guardian: Plans: Tesco store, hotel and flats were discussed by councillors and residents

Eyesore: Part of the derelict Tesco-owned land, next to Charrington Bowl

Kingston Council policy states half of the homes in any large residential development should be affordable.

Documents submitted by Tesco said all the buildings in the scheme will be built to the same standard, to create a "tenure blind approach to affordable housing".

They added: "The conviction is that tenure blind design helps social integration without affecting property prices.

"The exact amount of affordable housing in the outline element will be subject to a financial viability appraisal."

One-fifth of the homes will be designed for families, documents showed, and 23.7 percent of those would be affordable.

A Spenhill spokesman added: "The level of affordable housing will be dependent on the viability of the overall scheme, taking into account the cost of construction, contributions towards highways improvements and buses and other contributions to local schools and health care.

"This work cannot be undertaken until the scheme is finalised; now it has been submitted experts from both Spenhill and the Council will be able to consider this."

Subject to approval, construction is expected to begin in mid-2016 and to run over six years.