Kingston Council has approved plans to demolish the former Vauxhall Motor Dealership at The Triangle, Kingston, and replace it with a five-storey apartment block containing 34 flats and a nursery. The decision was made unanimously by the council's planning committee on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
Development Details
The new block will include a nursery with play space on the ground floor, a communal roof terrace, and 11 off-street car parking bays. New pavement, plants, and seats will link the development to the neighbouring shopping parade. The car dealership has been vacant since 2024.
Affordable Housing Omission
The scheme will not include any affordable housing, as independent consultants deemed it unviable. Despite this, councillors agreed the development would be an improvement on the current state of the site.
Lib Dem councillor Roger Hayes said: "I remember when this was absolutely covered with cars and they certainly did park all over the place, not just all over the site, but all up and down the streets around the area. So I think converting this to a residential site and the quality of the building that is proposed, I think this makes it ideal."
Impact on Local Area
A report by council officers added that the scheme would "result in improvements to the local highway network due to a significant reduction in on-site car parking." The development is expected to enhance the local area by replacing an empty dealership with new homes and community facilities.
