THE former Dairy Crest depot off West Drayton High Street is being lined up for a housing development, and residents are eagerly awaiting the plans.

Property developer Kitewood Estates has revealed it is drawing up a bid to build a block with 241 flats on the site in Tavistock Road.

But at the last Yiewsley and West Drayton Town Centre Action Group meeting, developers told members the parking needs of the development would be met with 180 spaces in an underground car park – providing for only three quarters of the occupants at best.

This disparity was highlighted by Councillor Dominic Gilham (Con, Yiewsley) – a former Dairy Crest milkman – who was neverthless optimistic about the benefits the development would bring.

“The parking space numbers need to be looked at, but it is a fantastic site being so close to what will be a Crossrail station,” he said.

“The whole of the south of the borough is going through a massive change and this could be a part of that. There is a need for low cost housing.”

The early proposals indicate the development would rise to nine storeys.

Bob Grylls, director of architecture and planning at Kitewood, said: “We see our development as something that will regenerate a downtrodden site.

“We believe our plans will help the local economy, as people living in the development will also want to shop locally.

“We understand the issues around parking and, if Hillingdon Council agrees, we will make sure our residents will not get permits for nearby controlled parking zones and also provide a car pool.

“However, our experience of sites like this, which are very close to transport hubs and town centres, is that the level of parking we are providing would be sufficient.”

No timescale has been given for the submission of the planning application, but it is expected to be made early in the new year.

Action group member Carl Nielsen said more information was needed. “At the moment, Kitewood are sounding out the residents, and it seems like an awful lot of flats in a confined area,” he added.

“They haven't got down to the brass tacks yet, and it will be very difficult to make any judgement until we see some CGI images of what it will look like.

“Everyone is in agreement that it is a site in need of redevelopment, and the action group is pleased to see something happening.”