A significant housing development is being planned on a 5.3 acre plot of land south of Mitcham Junction station, which is adjacent to a nature reserve and borders the banks of the River Wandle.

Redrow, one of the UK’s biggest housebuilders with a turnover of more than £1billion in 2014/15, recently announced the acquisition of the land near Goat Road, with work on an initial building phase of 51 homes scheduled to begin in July.

The first of two phases will see the building of 51 new homes, though this number is subject to planning changes.

Numbers for the second phase are yet to be confirmed, although Sutton Council believe the whole development will result in more than 120 new homes.

Redrow’s sales director Simon Halfhide said: “This new site will enable us to help address the shortfall of properties in the area by creating a significant number of homes.”

He added: “It will offer the perfect balance of contemporary and country living, providing the convenience of bustling Mitcham with Hackbridge’s rural village lifestyle.”

The site, which is currently being cleared, has natural surroundings but an industrial history – it was formerly home to a peppermint and lavender distillery, leather mills and a parchment works.

Tony Burton, chairman of the Wandle Valley Forum, said: "It needs to respect the river and not overly urbanise an important stretch of the Wandle."

A spokesperson for Sutton Council said: “We welcome Redrow’s commitment to building new homes near Goat Road in Mitcham.

“The site is in the Sutton Housing Zone and has been on the verge of development for a number of years.

“We are pleased to see the developer’s commitment to moving this project forward as we believe it will bring more than 120 new homes to the borough.”

The new homes are projected to be high quality and contemporary, and Redrow say it will cater for “a wide range of buyers, including first time buyers, downsizers and professionals who work in the capital.”

Prices for the properties have not yet been released.

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