A group of residents and sports players have set up a charity in a bid to save derelict playing fields earmarked for development.

The group fears that re-development of the 25 acre fields in Old Schools Lane, Ewell Village, would mean the area would lose valuable green space and sporting facilities.

Non-profit organisation Nonsuch Abbeyfield plans to build sheltered housing for the elderly with 24-hour care on the green fields, as well as building a modern sports pavilion alongside the development.

Sept 2014: Councillors reject plans for care home on playing fields in Ewell

Although its application was rejected by the council last year, after 1,500 people signed a petition to save the fields, the revised proposals are due to be debated in September.

April 2014: Over 400 people sign petition to protect Ewell playing fields from development

The new proposals include accommodation for up to 85 elderly residents, plus carers, as well as a new sports facility and new all-weather pitch. The previous application involved reducing the five pitches on the playfields down to three pitches plus a practice area.

The group Friends of OSL Playing Fields, which first formed in 2013, are now establishing a charitable trust, and hope to buy the rights to the site if the application fails again.

Members include local residents, as well as representatives from sports teams including Ewell Castle School, Worcester Park Cricket Club, St Clement’s Catholic Primary School and the Old Salesians Football Club, who had played on the grounds for more than 80 years before their closure in August 2014.

Chairman of Friends of OSL Playing Fields, and former principal of Ewell Castle School, Andrew Tibble, warned that the development was a "further extension of urban sprawl enveloping the village."

He said: "I feel confident that there’s a strong argument for it to be rejected. I appreciate the need for housing the elderly, but regret that area has been chosen.

"To my mind, it remains part of a Conservation area and an important part of our village."

The trust hopes to purchase either the lease or the freehold of the site from the current owners, the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB). They plan to make improvements to the sports and social facilities, before returning the playing fields to common use.

Although the cost of the fields themselves are estimated at £250,000, the group are aware that they may have to raise far more in order to outbid developers.

Chairman of Nonsuch Abbeyfield, Graham Walker, said: "We are in the final stages of preparing revised proposals for a project that will provide two important new community facilities at Old Schools Lane.

"These proposals will consist of a modern and affordable assisted living with care community for up to 85 older people, which will be professionally managed and supported by local volunteers. The accommodation and care facilities will be managed by Abbeyfield, a charity who have been operating locally for nearly 40 years.

"There will also be a 8.2 acre sports facility which will be vested in the community in perpetuity. Initially this will comprise an full size all-weather pitch, rugby or football pitch, cricket pitch, new sports pavilion and sports access and parking areas. The sports facility will be managed by Epsom Sports Club, a multi-sports club which has been operating locally for over 80 years."

For more information on the plans, visit www.nonsuchabbeyfield.org.

For more information on the Friends of OSL Playing Fields, visit www.save-ewell-playing-fields.org