The Raynes Park and West Barnes Residents Association (RP & WBRA) is gearing up for a renewed battle against a major property developer wanting to build 98 flats close to a flood plain in Raynes Park.

Barratt Homes has submitted an application to build on the 11-acre LESSA playing field, off Grand Drive, currently owned by London Electricity. Earlier this year two applications were submitted, only one of which was put forward to the next stage of the planning process.

The Environment Agency (EA) had claimed the plans may increase flooding in the area, close to the Beverley and Pyl Brooks.

The remaining application proposes five blocks of flats as well as car parking spaces in the north-eastern section of the site, lying just above the EA defined flood plain.

RP & WBRA chairman, David Freeman, said that the hard surfaces created would cause additional run-off and a reduction in the capacity of the site to store water.

An EA spokesman said that because the development would not be on the 100-year flood plain it could not object in the same terms as before, but would be putting forward a number of tight controls.

A Barratt spokesman said: The new application is for fewer houses but significantly more apartments..

Merton Council confirmed the application will be discussed in committee, possibly early next year.