Major plans for a big mixed development comprising 67 homes near Sutton High Street have been scrapped by developers.

The original proposals wanted to knock down Carpetright and Farmfoods before 1,340sqpm of commercial would be put in for retail use and flats on up to seven upper floors.

Plans by the Rachel Charitable Trust insisted they offered “much-needed” residential accommodation while retaining existing retail floor space.

READ: From September: Major plans to build huge mixed development with 67 homes submitted

There would also have been communal amenity space, cycle parking, refuse and recycling storage facilities alongside a commercial service area.

It would have been located near to Mark and Spencer and be a short distance from the Times Square Shopping Centre.

In the conclusion of the design and access statement, the now-dropped proposals read: “The proposed development has evolved through a process of understanding the constraints and opportunities of the site, together with the dialogue from the local authority [Sutton Council] and third parties, which has involved the design process.

“The current building form is unattractive from both the High Street and surrounding roads. The proposal seeks to provide a high quality designed building of contemporary architecture with materials that shall provide longevity and quality wellbeing.

“The scale of the building responds to its immediate setting and repairs the street scape with a thoughtful contemporary building.

“The proposal should therefore be supported by the council to help facilitate the regeneration of this area.”

 

A conceptual visualisation of the proposed development in Lodge Place

Plans were submitted on August 14, and validated on September 10, before the council confirmed developers had withdrawn plans on December 19.

There was one public comment – an objection – during the consultation period.

Christopher White, of Lenham Road, said the proposals were “over double that of the indicative housing capacity” of 31 dwellings outlined in the Sutton Town Centre Masterplan.

He insisted the multi-storey development would “cause significant loss of daylight” for properties to the northeast of the huge building.

Mr White’s other concerns related to “significant pressure” on parking in the area and the potential impact on the high street’s Marks and Spencer.

The reasons for why they were dropped are currently unclear, but the dedicated site for the plans is active at the time of publishing.

It’s not known at this stage whether fresh proposals will be submitted in the future by the Rachel Charitable Trust.

To see the website, click here.