TESCO SITE FOR HOUSING?
I have heard today that the ‘Toby Jug’ site in Tolworth, so long blighted by Tesco’s controversial plans to build a superstore there, will not now house a store but that it will be given over instead for housing.
Earlier plans for the site, which incorporates the last major former government office site in the south of the Borough, included plans for up to 170 units (from memory) of affordable housing. Kingston now has a waiting list for such housing some 7,500 strong. Although this site will not solve this problem on its own, it will go some way to helping.
I have fond memories of the whole area as an opportunity site when we were drawing up the UDP some 12 or so years ago. Everything has been on hold for far too long pending the resolution of the superstore question. Let us hope that imaginations can now be engaged in regenerating that whole area of Tolworth west of the A240 and incorporating both sides of the station.
Surbiton Forum 
Very pleased Tesco have seen the light. The site was never designated retail and the traffic problems would have been horrendous. Hopefully it will be a mix of houses and flats and community uses like we suggested way back at the Focus Groups in 2007!!