Hundreds of new homes could be built on the site of a former pub in South London where David Bowie first performed as his iconic Ziggy Stardust persona.
The Toby Jug, in Tolworth, was one of the capital's legendary music venues in the 1960s and 1970s, hosting the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Genesis and Thin Lizzy, but struggled in later years before it was demolished in 2002.
Developers Countryside Partnerships and The Guinness Partnership have submitted plans to complete their new housing development in Tolworth, known as Signal Park, on land where the pub once sat and its surroundings. The land has not been used for around 20 years, after the former pub and government offices based there shut down.
The developers are proposing to build 965 new homes on the empty land, which is one of the capital's largest brownfield sites, including 204 affordable homes. The new homes would be built as the second, and final, phase of Signal Park, which already has 211 affordable homes.
A new community centre is included in the plans, along with space for shops and offices, gardens and play areas. New pedestrian and cycle routes would be created through the site, which is next to Tolworth station, while the public square that was built in phase one would be extended.
The application provides detailed designs for 336 proposed homes arranged in four blocks up to 16 storeys tall on the site, along with outline plans for 629 more homes. This means 1,176 homes would be provided across the whole development.
Application documents said the plans would turn the site into a 'vibrant new destination in Kingston'. They added: "The development proposals present an exciting and significant opportunity to make better use of one of the largest vacant brownfield sites in London. Once complete, the Signal Park phase two land will make substantial contribution to the borough's and London's housing and affordable housing requirements."
Kingston Council will decide on the plans in due course.
