The Prime Minister has been asked to halt controversial plans to build on the land adjacent to Hampton Court Palace, after an architect who has been fighting against the proposed development submitted an online petition on Downing Street’s website.

It is the latest twist in the seemingly never ending Jolly Boatman saga, and a demonstration that campaigners against the development are still refusing to lie down.

In December 2008, Elmbridge Council gave the go-ahead for developers to build a hotel, residential units and a new care home for the Royal Star and Garter charity on the derelict former site of the Jolly Boatman pub. The application also included plans for a refurbished building at Hampton Court station.

But campaigners have claimed the new buildings would have a detrimental impact on the historically important setting of the palace and have also voiced concerns the development could cause flooding in the area.

Last year, architect Keith Garner, who himself used to work for Hampton Court Palace, went to the High Court to seek a judicial review into the council’s decision to give the plans the green light.

Although Mr Garner’s case was rejected because of his “standing” - he had never made a formal objection to the planning application - deputy high court judge George Bartlett conceded the council had made a “legal error” in granting permission because it had failed to take sufficient account of the importance of preserving the setting of Hampton Court Palace.

Mr Garner now plans to fight the decision and in the meantime has created the petition to drum up more support and convince Gordon Brown to step in.

The petition has already attracted more than 900 signatures, including that of the respected historian David Starkey.

He said: “I have asked my solicitors to renew the application for judicial review so that the question of my standing can be considered further. However, I don’t think Elmbridge should be hiding behind the technicality that I haven’t been given standing so far. “They shouldn’t be wasting council tax payers’ money in this way.”

Elmbridge Council said no legal error had been made and said it would continue to fight against a judicial review.

To view the petition, visit http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/hampton-court/.