Accommodation for more than 70 students will be built near wildlife habitats despite a recommendation that Epsom and Ewell borough council’s planning committee reject it.

From April: Residents protest against plans for 77-bed student accommodation in Epsom

Plans by developers Loganberry Ltd for 11 new homes with 77 beds, parking and bicycle spaces were approved by the council last night.

The application replaced plans for 10 new houses - including six "luxury homes" - which was approved, after the Planning Inspectorate overturned the council’s initial refusal.

Loganberry Ltd had agreed to keep one-third of the site as a wildlife sanctuary.

Although the site - between Epsom's Mill Road and the railway - is not a Conservation area, it is home to badgers, foxes, lizards, stag beetles and plants.

The council’s planning committee approved the updated application for student accommodation at a meeting on Thursday, November 5.

Residents’ Association Councillor Neil Dallen, who sits on the planning committee said: "The scheme with houses was actually worse than the student accommodation plan.

"If we tried to refuse this one it would just go back to the Inspectorate. As far as planning rules go we could not turn it down.

"It would be a stupid thing to do financially and achieve nothing."

Council planning officers recommended the committee reject the application due to concerns over flood risks and upsetting local wildlife.

In the agenda for the planning committee a planning officer wrote: "Insufficient information has been provided to demonstrate that the proposal will not cause unacceptable flood risk.

"The applicant has failed to enter to a legal agreement to provide land to secure biodiversity protection, mitigation and management."

The plans sparked a protest in April this year with residents staging a demonstration outside the site on Easter Sunday.

In April, Julie Morris, the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Epsom west by-election, said: "We now have the prospect of even less green space being kept within the area to be developed and 77 students living on the site.

"Hardly conducive to a peaceful area for the wildlife sanctuary which is just feet away.

"We don't really want anything built on this site.

"It's a hugely valuable green corridor, should be left undisturbed and removed from the council's list of sites which are apparently suitable for housing."

A council spokesperson said: "The planning application was approved with all of the recommended conditions.

"An extra informative is to be added with regards to the requirement for a European Protected Species Licence. Condition 12 requires details of the management of the student units and members have required that ward councillors are consulted on the details of this."

What do you think? Comment below or email letters@epsomguardian.co.uk.