A long-awaited housing development in one of the borough’s most deprived areas has finally gotten off the ground with the selection of a housing company to partner the project.

Hollymoor Lane, in the Longmead Estate, Epsom, has been earmarked for redevelopment with social and affordable housing for a number of years, with plans to keep the existing convenience store on-site and add a doctor’s surgery.

Last February, Epsom Residents’ Association councillor Neil Dallen, chairman of the council’s strategy and resources committee, apologised for continuing delays to the project after court ward’s Labour councillor Sheila Carlson claimed the council for "foot dragging" and not "putting it on their list of priorities".

Last week, Epsom Council announced that housing provider Orbit has been selected as the partner for the redevelopment and a planning application is expected to be submitted for it this spring.

But the "indicative" plans for the new development do not include a GP surgery.

The development will comprise a new mini-supermarket, which Mr Patel - who currently runs the convenience store there - will lease from the council, as well as 30 affordable homes, consisting of 10 houses and 20 flats.

An Orbit spokesman said it has committed to keeping the rents on the houses at a "truly affordable level".

On the announcement, Coun Dallen said: "This project marks a key milestone in transforming this semi-derelict site into something the council and the community can be very proud of.

"Residents will have an opportunity to input their views about any development within the planning application process.

"This is a much-needed development which is a council priority and this project contributes to the needs for increased social and affordable housing of the borough."

But Coun Carlson said that, while she is excited about the project now being driven forward, she believes council failings have marred it.

She said: "We are very happy for the residents because people, especially in Hollymoor Lane and Dorset Square, have been completely blighted by this and they have been left in a situation where they are looking at a derelict site and anti-social behaviour has been rife around there.

"There were failings over many, many years by the council over this project.

"I find it disingenuous that Neil Dallen says how pleased he is.

"There was a golden opportunity to develop this property which could take 26 families off the council waiting list.

"It’s appalling that it’s been allowed to drag on this for so long."

The new plans for the site do not include a new GP surgery because of problems surrounding the NHS’ approval for GPs premises - an issue which was reported by the Epsom Guardian last July.

But Labour court ward councillor Dan Stevens said it is an issue that "could have been avoided had the council acted two or three years ago" before the approval of new GPs premises became an issue within the NHS.

He said that, even though the project is now underway, he still wants the "right thing to be done".

He said questions have already been raised about the lack of a GP surgery, the increased housing in the development compared to original plans, and the fact that Dorset Square residents - who currently use the space behind the shops to park their cars because their homes are landlocked - will have nowhere to park once the site is developed.

Maggie McCann, Orbit development director, added: "We’re delighted to be working with Epsom and Ewell Borough Council to bring these much-needed affordable family homes to the area to help meet the requirements of the local community."