Residents fearful of a major development in Teddington’s Udney Park playing fields have applied for them to be registered as an asset of community value.

Imperial College has stopped using the grounds this academic year and granted an extension to Newland House School for the use of the playing fields, but the future of the site is uncertain.

The sports ground has also been linked with Turing House free school, due to open in September 2015 but is yet to name a location, but neighbours want the site to remain for for recreational purposes.

Kingston Lane resident and member of the Friends of Udney Park Playing Fields campaign Gareth Bullock said: “We as residents realise that if this ever became a commercial development then the loss of the green space and the extra traffic it would bring would be intolerable.

“Lots of people play sport there and many came to Teddington because of the green space in that area.”

As part of the Localism Act of 2011, when nominations for community assets from a group are accepted, the group will be given time to come up with a bid for the asset when it is sold.

Mr Bullock said: “Registering the playing fields as an asset of community value would give a party time to think about buying it and maintaining its existing use.”