Plans to cram 21 houses in a space currently occupied by four have angered Wallington residents.

The Lavender Housing Partnership, which is part-run by Sutton Council, submitted a planning application on April 30 to build affordable accommodation on land surrounded by properties from Harcourt Avenue, Harcourt Field and Manor Way, in Wallington.

Residents are opposing the plans, claiming the area is too small for such development, and have delivered 42 letters of objection and a petition with more than 500 signatures to the council.

They also claim part of the land has become a habitat for wildlife.

Chris Searle, a member of the newly formed Manor Community Residents’ Association, said: “This is a piece of green land that is on our back gardens.

“They are going to put very dense buildings there on a piece of land that has been protected and locked for over a century without even carrying out an ecological survey.

“Lots of people in this small community have lived here for between 15 and 40 years.

“These plans to build a big council estate in a small piece of land have caused huge anger and disbelief here.”

The consultation period for the application ended last week.

Ken Andrew, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Carshalton and Wallington also attacked the council’s proposal.

He said: “This is such a lovely area which contains many beautiful trees, birds, bees and other wildlife that would be destroyed should permission be given to go ahead with the proposal.

“It should also be recognised that the application is in the name of the Lavender Housing Partnership, which includes Sutton Council itself.

“In other words Sutton Council will be proposing a development to itself.

“I strongly support local residents who quite understandably oppose this scheme.

“I believe very strongly in the importance of local communities and in my view this proposal will change the nature of this community for ever.”

A council spokesman said: “No final decision has yet been made and we are continuing to listen to the opinions of local residents.

“While the consultation period ends on June 10, any comments are welcome after that point and will be considered when the application is decided.

“A full ecological survey, conducted by external consultants and looking at the application’s impact on wildlife and trees will be submitted and considered together with the application.

“Sixty letters of objection have so far been received and will all be taken into account when a final decision is made.”

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