Fears that plans to build 23 homes will be cast aside for a scheme to instead construct more than 60 units have been raised by a New Eltham residents’ group.

Luxury housing development Holland Gardens, also known as Waterford Place, has been under construction by Linden Homes since it was granted planning permission in 2016 by Greenwich Council.

However, a group made up of residents living in homes built in the first phase of the project fear the developer intends to resubmit plans for the second leg.

The residents’ group, called itself HG Planning Watch, say that correspondence with Linden Homes leads them to believe the developer will instead pursue a proposal to build blocks of flats during the second branch of the development, instead of houses which already have planning permission.

It would see between 60 to 80 units built in a new flat development alongside green space in the centre of the site, instead of the 23 homes – mostly houses – initially approved by the council.

 A spokesperson from HG Planning Watch said the group feared that a beefed-up amount of homes would overload traffic and public services in the area.

“The proposed plans are entirely out of keeping with the current development and directly counter to numerous assurances that many residents were given by Linden Homes regarding what was going to be built on that site,” the spokesperson said.

“The proposed apartments would significantly increase traffic, pollution and demand for public services in an area which is already at capacity.

“If such plans were to be approved, it would make a mockery of the planning process and would be an affront to the many local residents who opposed Linden’s initial plan to build a comparable number of apartments on the site.  Should Linden submit a plan of this scale, the existing residents of Holland Gardens would vehemently oppose it.”

Linden Homes were coy when contacted by the local democracy reporting service, neither confirming or denying whether a resubmission had been considered.

A spokesperson for the developer said: “Our planning permission for 23 homes at our Waterford Place development in New Eltham was granted by Royal Borough of Greenwich. A resubmission has not currently been actioned.”

It’s the latest twist in planning matters for the site, which has stretched for more than two decades, since the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) stopped their use of the former field in 1992.

While many of the homes built in the first phase of development around the perimeter of the site have already been sold, some still remain open for purchase; with a four-bedroom house at the site priced from £699,000.