Residents unhappy over developer plans for green

In 2022, residents raised £27,000 in an attempt to save the green and buy the land

Families living in a Sunbury cul-de-sac say they are fearful for the future of a green after it was sold to a developer.

Residents in Catherine Drive said they were "absolutely distraught" after its green space was put under threat by plans to build six homes in the centre of the drive.

Jason Kiefer, who lives on the road with his family, said that the green was an "integral part" of their community.

Developers ET Planning said the plans would create an "enhanced public amenity space" and would keep the urban open land.

In 2022, residents raised £27,000 in an attempt to save the green and buy the land at auction, but were unsuccessful when it was sold for more than twice that amount.

Now, the developer is planning to build six, two-storey affordable homes on the land, each with a private garden and on-site parking, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The nearly 1900m2 green space, peppered with trees, is said to have been created with the housing estate almost 60 years ago

Mr Kiefer said the plans were flawed as Catherine Drive was an adopted highway, adding that the development would "segregate everyone off".

"It pulls the whole community together. Everyone can see everyone. We all get out there and have a laugh in the summer," he said.

Councillor Harry Boparai, of Spelthorne Borough Council, said the situation was an "unnecessary hell for residents".

A council spokesperson noted that the Local Planning Authority was required to consider all applications which had been submitted, which included the current proposal.

"Local residents have been notified of the proposals and their comments will be taken into account," they said.

The application is expected to be determined in the new year.

ET Planning declined to comment further.

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