A group of frustrated residents has applied for a judicial review after Wandsworth Council's planning committee approved plans to build eight homes as an infill development in Balham.

Thornsett developers received permission to build the houses on land behind Thurleigh Road but several residents believe that the application goes against housing policies laid down by the council’s own planning department.

March 2: Housing developer to hire "caretaker" to move bins once a week as eight homes approved against residents' wishes

According to the group, the application for the houses uses land that belongs to other properties, and its refuse strategy does not comply with the British standard.

Sia Sayers, who lives near to the site, said: "We are worried that the construction management plan proposed by Thornsett will result in damage to private property and public property, trucks will climb on the pavement, collide with walls and buildings, despite needing the suspension of at least 14 parking bays on Holmside and Thurleigh Roads.

"There will be huge safety implications because the loading and unloading of deliveries cannot be done on the site."

Ms Sayers said she was also concerned for the safety of pedestrians crossing the path in front of the entrance to the development, with a school and doctors’ surgery nearby, meaning the pathway is often busy.

The application for the homes was approved by Wandsworth Council on the basis that a caretaker would be hired to move the bins every week for collection, as the pathway is too far from the road for the collectors to walk down as part of their route.

The group of residents also believe the access road is too narrow for fire engines.

Richard Carroll, who lives in the former Beecholme Tennis Club next to the site, has previously raised concerns that his house risks falling into the site as the foundations will be built just feet from his property’s edge.

He claimed that the plans for the houses were approved on the basis of out of date plans of his own house that placed the boundary walls in the wrong area.

Pre-action protocol and grounds of claims bundles were served to Wandsworth Council and Thornsett and a high court judge will give a decision on whether there is a case in three weeks.

A spokesman for Wandsworth Council said: "Planning consent has been granted for eight mews-type homes on this empty and long vacant brownfield site in Balham. Some neighbouring residents have objected and are now seeking to overturn this decision.

"We believe their case has no legal merit and we will be robustly defending our position if their application ever comes before the courts."

The group is raising money for their judicial review costs here.