THE REMAINS of a 134 year-old derelict gas works could be razed and houses built in their place.

In 1883 two gas holders, a tar and liquor storage tank and purifiers were erected in Sunninghill, with two further holders added half a century later.

Since 1963 the gas works have been inactive and much of the remaining buildings demolished in 2013.

Now St William Homes LLP, a joint venture between National Grid and Berkeley Group, has submitted plans to the Royal Borough requesting permission to build 81 dwellings on the site off Bridge Road.

As well as 53 homes, 24 apartments and four coach houses, a village green will be developed along with 200 parking spaces on the brownfield site.

Multiple residents have written to the council raising concerns about how the development could put extra strain on the nearby roads.

Stuart Miller wrote: "While I appreciate the developers have modified the plans to push some of the traffic flow down bridge road, it still results in a significant increase in traffic through Cavendish Meads.

"The proposal to access the site via a road, which is on a blind corner where residents currently park on the road, as they have insufficient parking on their drive, is clearly unsatisfactory."

Sunninghill and Ascot Parish Council has also formally submitted its objections to the plans, arguing that the proposed apartments would not reflect the Victorian nature of Bridge Road and that the loss of trees would have a detrimental impact on the bio-diversity of the area.

In the report it states: "When designing, we think first of people, for example; how people will relate to the site as residents (existing and new) as visitors and those for whom the site may be part of a stroll around the village.

"Then we look at the sort of spaces which will accommodate and encourage this activity and the landscape structure which will bring those spaces to life.

"Only then do we conceptualise the design and disposition of buildings which will become the development. In essence, this is the “First Life, then Spaces, then Buildings” approach."