Controversial plans to allow a developer to build luxury houses on a plot in Esher, designated for affordable housing for the elderly, have been given the go ahead by Elmbridge Council.

Councillors at a planning meeting on Tuesday, September 7, voted 11 to eight in favour of allowing developer Octagon to build 13 houses on the Elmbridge Housing Trust land in Wootton, Esher Park Avenue.

Planning officers had advised councillors turn down the plans, because the offer did not include on site affordable housing, a requirement for applications in the borough.

But councillors decided there were exceptional circumstances to grant planning permission, after Octagon struck a deal with the housing trust last year to provide 114 affordable houses on other sites in Claygate, Walton and Weybridge.

Councillor James Browne, portfolio holder for housing, spearheaded the charge to allow the development to go ahead, arguing it was a deal that would benefit the 1,700 currently applying for affordable housing in the borough.

In July, the Elmbridge Guardian revealed there were seven applicants for each affordable property that became available.

Coun Browne said earlier this year: “The demand for affordable housing in Elmbridge is overwhelming. This development proposes 114 extra houses.

“The people most in need cannot wait for the Government to assist in the funding of building housing on the other sites.”

Critics of the plans feared removing affordable housing from one of the most expensive streets in Elmbridge could be seen as an attempt to create ghettos in the borough where only the less privileged live.

They also argued the site was ideal for the elderly as it was less than a minutes walk from shops, public transport and a doctors surgery.

Chris Whelan, development director at Elmbridge Housing Trust, said: “The reality is, if we did develop on the site at Wootton we would only at the very most be able to provide 50 affordable homes and would still need to secure the funding for that. With this application, we can deliver 114.

“This proposal means we can deliver affordable housing in three separate places in the borough. This approach opens up so many more opportunities to people.”