A new housing development set to provide homes for hundreds of people on the site of a former school building has been given the green light by councillors.

Epsom Council’s planning committee approved plans for the demolition of the Lintons Centre, on Lintons Lane, Epsom, and its replacement with 85 new homes yesterday.

The two-storey centre, which after closing as a school was home to community groups such as kids disability club Epsom Phab, is set on a 1.52-hectare site and will be redeveloped to provide 51 private homes and 34 units of affordable housing.

Of the affordable homes, 10 will be two-bed flats operating on a shared ownership scheme and 24 will be rented accommodation, comprising two to four bedrooms.

According to a report by the council’s planning department the development will have a "traditional design" and contain a mix of two and two-and-a-half storey terraced houses, as well as blocks of flats of three to four storeys high.

A children’s play area will also be included on the site.

Surrey Highways Authority stated in the report that there would only be a 2.1 per cent increase in traffic due to the redevelopment which "doesn’t equate to severe impact on the network and is therefore acceptable". 

But the site’s access road, Lintons Lane, will be moved from its existing location so it does not run parallel with the rear gardens of homes on the adjacent Stones Road. 

Changes will also be made to the parking area at the end of Lintons Lane at the junction with Leith Road.

Councillors voted unanimously for the development, despite raising concerns over access to the site.

Councillor Neil Dallen, said: "I can see nothing but congestion coming from this development."

Councillor Sheila Carlson agreed: "The access to this very large development is going to be down a very narrow road. 

"Suddenly there will be a very large amount of movement going up and down the road. 

"I applaud the fact we are going to get some housing, particularly affordable housing, but I worry that they’re trying to cram too many buildings onto the site."

But Councillor Anna Jones said: "I can see no real reason for refusing this application on traffic or highway or parking issues."

Charles Church Southern will redevelop the site.

What do you think about the new development? Contact Hardeep Matharu on the newsdesk on 0208 722 6346, email hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk, or leave a comment below.