A cricket pitch will be created under revised plans for sheltered housing on playing fields – but concerns have been raised it could increase the flood risk locally.

Nonprofit organisation Nonsuch Abbeyfield wants to develop sheltered housing with 25-hour care on 2.5 acres of an 11-acre site in Old Schools Lane in Ewell Village.

The proposed development site is near a series of historic springs and just a few hundred yards from the persistent flooding outside Bourne Hall.

New plans released this week have been changed to include a cricket pitch, an all weather pitch and a grass pitch in response to concerns from Sport England and residents over loss of facilities.

The design has been amended so that the planned pitches no longer overlap and Epsom Sports Club has agreed in principle to operate them.

Nonsuch Abbeyfield has carried out surveys and collected information to address concerns over traffic, strain on health services, the size of a building and loss of trees.

Its website said: "With ESC as sporting partner and the proposed replacement playing pitch provision there will be an enhancement of use of the site for sporting use.

"The pitches are to be re-laid with enhanced drainage including an all weather surface that will be capable of sustained usage."

But Sutton councillor Mary Burstow, who represents Cheam, said she had been contacted by someone raising concerns about building on a flood plain in a water catchment area.

Coun Burstow warned better drainage could result in more water going into local water courses increasing the risk of flooding elsewhere.

She said: "At the moment building on any flood plains is a bad idea. It’s a pain that the playing fields are getting flooded but actually the water is being held instead of rushing into rivers."

Residents are invited to a public meeting on Wednesday, February 26, at Bourne Hall in Spring Street, Ewell, at 6pm.

See the plans on the organisation's website: www.nonsuchabbeyfield.org.