Kingston's Cambridge Road Estate will be bulldozed for huge tower blocks with 2,000 homes.

Kingston Council and Countryside Properties will transform the estate in Norbiton, Kingston and build 2,170 homes by 2033.

The first phase of the plans has been approved, and will bring the 452 new homes to the area, with building work starting in 2022.

Phases two to five have been given outline permission, meaning the development has been approved in principle but designs have not been finalised.

The run down Cambridge Road Estate has 832 homes. These will all be bulldozed to make way for the new development.

Phase one will bring the first 452 homes, offices and shops. The homes will be "greener" and gardens, play areas and tree-lined streets will also be built.

Parking, bicycle storage will be provided along with an energy centre.

Developers say 33 per cent of homes will be affordable from the first phase.

Phases two to five see the remaining 1,718 homes built, along with more shops, offices and parks.

The development will have tower blocks up to 13-storeys high. The council has been asked how many tower blocks will be built on the estate in total.

There will be a mixture of flats, maisonettes and houses with up to six bedrooms.

Around 42 per cent of homes will be affordable when all five phases are complete.

The neighbourhood will provide at least 114 new council homes.

At Kingston Council's planning committee last month (December 21), locals raised their concerns about the scale and height of the development, how overbearing it could be and how "overpopulated" the site could become.

They were also worried about noise pollution and an increase in traffic during and after building work.

Conservative councillor Ian George said: "This is not something you'd expect to see in suburban Kingston."

He added: "We're changing from suburban Kingston to Central London."

Malcolm Wood, developer at Countryside, said: "The transformation of the Cambridge Road Estate will deliver significant benefits, which include 2,170 much needed new homes, 921 affordable homes, new community facilities, and modern well laid out warm homes.

"Every home will have a view over green space and every home will have outdoor space even a garden, terrace or balcony."

Liberal Democrat councillor and portfolio holder for housing, Emily Davey said: "By approving this planning application this evening, you can reduce crime and fuel poverty, cut carbon emissions, build 114 more council homes and keep this community together."

At last night's meeting, eight councillors voted for the plans and one against.

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