Residents are preparing for a crunch meeting with developers over plans for a huge block of flats for 300 students on the Cambridge Road estate.

An application to build a seven storey unit on the former site of the Duke’s Tavern pub has been submitted to Kingston Council by AK II Property Investments.

It proposes building 109 studios and 191 cluster flats, plus a 99 square meter retail unit. It would see car rental firm Europecar and mechanics

The scheme is a variation of a previous application for a smaller block of flats for 100 students, approved by the council last year.

But residents believe the new application is a step too far, and have called a public meeting to air their concerns.

Jill Preston, chair of the Cambridge Road Estates Community Group, said: “They put one in last year for 100 students, and we didn’t object to that because we understand you have got to put them somewhere.

“But now they’ve resubmitted a plan for seven levels for 300 students.

"It will completely block off Madingley Green, which is our only green space.

"We don’t think we should be expected to accommodate 300 students. It’s just too much."

Her views were supported by members of both the Cambridge Road Estates Residents’ Association (CRERA) and the One Norbiton community group.

CRERA chairman Harry Hall said: "The view is the same all around. It’s too large for the site in an already overpopulated part of Kingston.

"To their credit, they have answered our questions and tried to help us, but it’s just not an appropriate development.

One Norbiton chairman Mike D’Souza added: “We are united against these proposals.

"One Norbiton has been set up to prevent urban stress, and this development is a pretty over the top problem for increasing it.

"We want to support students, I was a student once, but this is too much.”

In its submission to the council, AK II pledges to contribute £100,000 for improvements on the two estates, to be agreed by residents.

The developer also promises to give priority to estate residents for the 20 full and part time jobs it expects the shops to create.

A new play area with rubberised surfaces, an artificial sports pitch and new seating for residents would also be built.

The meeting will take place at Queen Mary’s Hall, on the Cambridge Gardens estate, on Tuesday, May 28, at 7.30pm.