COMMUNITY groups are awaiting a new housing development being built on derelict land with mixed feelings.

In a statement, the affordable housing provider ASRA has said work will begin within two weeks to build 11 homes, plus a shop to be offered at low rent, at 216 Field End Road, Eastcote.

The £3m project on land opposite Eastcote station will include one and two bedroom apartments to provide ‘affordable’ homes to people on Hillingdon Council’s housing waiting list. It is due to be completed by summer 2014.

But there are fears the scheme could worsen traffic problems in the area, and exasperation that the developer is making no contribution to the community.

“We would like to see a derelict site come to life again, but we did have concerns about [the traffic] issues,” said Jackie Redrup, committee member for planning of Eastcote Residents’ Association (ERA).

Lesley Crowcroft, chairman of Eastcote Village Conservation Area Advisory Panel (EVCAAP), said the group strongly objected for the same reasons.

“There are 11 flats and no parking spaces,” she said.

“There is no rear entrance to the building, so all the rubbish would have to be taken from the front and it’s a main road by traffic lights.”

ASRA bought the site from developer Bride Hall, which had successfully objected to a Hillingdon Council condition that it had to pay cash towards the restoration of Eastcote House Gardens.

Mrs Crowcroft said: “[The gardens are] a green open space that we need to protect so that everyone can use it, so I think they should put their hand in their pocket and put something into the community, instead of just taking from the community.”

William Cornall, director of development and assets for ASRA Housing Group, said: “We hope this development will help local people in the borough have access to quality affordable homes.”

ERA fears adjacent roads will be used by tenants who have cars, and lorries delivering goods to the lower floor retail unit will have to stop outside the front of the shop in Field End Road.