Plans to build four "inappropriate and cramped" homes in the backyards of concerned residents have been rejected by councillors.

Epsom Council’s planning committee last night refused an application to build two pairs of semi-detached homes behind a house, 93 Chessington Road, in Ewell, with parking and private drive access.

The garden of number 93 stretches back about 100ft and a number of homes on the adjacent Oakdale Road back on to it.

Residents of Oakdale Road have raised concerns that the development and its proposed access road would be a danger to pedestrians.

They were also upset that the back garden of number 93 was cleared of vegetation this summer, which they said was home to much wildlife.

FROM SEPTEMBER: Developer dismisses safety and wildlife concerns over four new homes

Speaking in favour of the planning application at the meeting, architect Jonathan Leeson said: "There is a need for more modern, three-bedroom sites in the area.

"We think this is an ideal piece of land to build four badly-needed homes."

He said the site had been a car repair site, then became wasteland and has now been "left vacant and subject to fly-tipping."

Although the council’s officers recommended the application be approved, councillors rejected the proposals by seven votes to three, with one councillor abstaining.

The grounds for refusal were that it would be over-development of the site, that it constitutes back-land development, provides insufficient parking and creates road safety concerns.

Debating the application, Councillor Clive Smitheram said: "Is it too much on this site? I consider this to be more urbanisation of our borough."

Coun Beckett agreed: "The site is right for development.

"Whether this is the right development as it looks at the moment I don’t know.

"I’m still to be convinced."

Councillor Sheila Carlson added: "Yet again we have a piece of land which is probably right for some sort of development but what happens so often, people get very enthusiastic and they try and cram as much as possible on the site.

"I think that’s what’s happened on this site."

Councillor Anna Jones added: "Housing could be a good use for this land. My only concern is the over-development of this site." She said that while the borough is "desperate for family housing", insufficient parking for the new homes was a concern.

Councillor David Mayall also said: "This is over-development on this site.

"Maybe it’s right for development but not to this extent."

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Epsom's planning officers advised the committee to carefully consider whether the application would amount to "over-development" before voting in a motion to refuse it.

In response, Councillor Colin Taylor said: "My concern is if we turn it down it would go to appeal and get approved."

Coun Jones said: "The policies don’t back us up.

"In this case, I can’t see how we would win if it went to an appeal.

"I hate saying that but in practice I can’t see what we can do about it.

"It’s so frustrating."

But Coun Smitheram, who proposed the motion to refuse the application, said he did not believe that councillors on the committee should be "manacled" and a vote to refuse it was taken.

After the meeting, resident Jane Gage, who helped coordinate the Team Oakdale campaign against the proposals, said: "We are delighted and relieved.

"The councillors clearly understood our objections that exposed the many downfalls and policy issues of this inappropriate and cramped proposed development.

"We hope this same due diligence will also be given to any future proposals on this land."

Developer White Oak Homes has been contacted for comment.