A further 35 homes and two traveller pitches have been green lit near Egham.
The development was unanimously approved by Runnymede Borough Council’s planning committee despite initial concerns that more housing could have been squeezed on to the site, and objections from the Thorpe Ward Residents Association.
The homes will be split into 18 apartments and 17 houses, alongside the two pitches. The houses will be a mix of four three-bedrooms, 10 four-bedrooms and three five-bedrooms.
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The council said affordable housing could come in the form of financial contribution from the developer.
The land, currently occupied by both residential and commercial buildings including an existing temporary Gypsy and Traveller site, had originally been earmarked for 40 homes – but changes to flood plain designations meant that had to come down.
Officers told the meeting: “That has eaten up a bit more land, so the numbers did have to be reduced. We’re trying to sort the best mix we can for viability and the boat mix and layout that we can do.
“There are so many different competing considerations when we are looking at this.”
Councillor Michael Creasey (Independent: Ottershaw) added: “This seems like something I can support” but asked for clarification over the objections raised by the Thorpe Ward Residents Association.
He was told the plans comply with the council’s design and parking standards, and that the benefits of the homes compensated for the loss of trees.
The council is also in the process of securing a landscaping scheme that includes replacement trees.
Government targets of 10 per cent biodiversity net gain do not apply to the development as it was submitted before the guidelines were passed – it does however improve biodiversity.
This application is separate to the 52 homes approved and being constricted on Thorpe Lea Road by Cala as part of its Maple Croft development.