Teddington Studios, where some of Britain's best-loved comedies and chat shows were filmed, is to be demolished and replaced by a 213-flat development, with many concerned the "bland" plans ignore the site’s history.

Haymarket Group was granted permission to build on the site, where film studios first arrived in the 1910s and which has hosted Morcambe and Wise, the Benny Hill Show and Harry Hill's TV Burp, as well as many others, in return for an £8m contribution toward affordable housing in the borough.

The development, which will include a public riverside walk, gained a majority vote of five to four in favour at the borough's planning committee on Wednesday.

Councillor Martin Elengorn highlighted how the plans entailed the relaxing of some of the council’s policies on building height and provision of affordable housing.

He said: "It represents a major breach of two of the council’s policies and we have to consider whether the benefits of the development justify that.

"I think it’s a very bland design which breaches the council’s height regulations."

Speaking after the meeting, he added: "This is a site where we should see a leading architect come up with a great design, acknowledging the area’s history."

Coun John Coombs said: "Remember we are being asked to do something exceptional tonight.

"I don’t think style the architect has come up with justifies this. The design that they have come up with could be anywhere and doesn’t even follow a housing style."

Provisions for a £5m tech-hub at Richmond College will be made by Haymarket, and chief executive Kevin Costello said the organisation was committed to improving the borough.

He said: "We have been in the borough for 35 years and have relocated a further 600 employees.

"Over a third of our colleagues live in the borough, so we are very much part of the community. We want to stay here and are passionate about building something we can all be proud of.

"It’s important we leave a lasting legacy in the borough."

The plans include 12 on-site affordable housing shared ownership units and £8m pledged towards creating affordable housing elsewhere in the borough, but leader of the opposition Councillor Stephen Knight said more should be provided on-site.

He said: "Does this give us any chance of finding anywhere for 200 affordable housing settlements in the borough?"