Residents expressed outrage this week at plans for Twickenham’s new station.

The initial designs for the site sparked controversy as they suggest the £40m redevelopment could include an additional three blocks of high-rise flats, totalling 170 new homes, alongside the new station.

John Parsons, chairman of the neighbouring Cole Park Residents’ Association, said: “We support the development of the new station but unnecessary over-development we believe is out of keeping with [the] residential character and general environment.

This is a suburban area, not an urban area – this is edge-of-town not town centre.”

Solum Regeneration, a joint venture between Network Rail and Keir Property, is consulting the public on the plans before a detailed scheme is submitted for planning permission this year.

Current designs show a new station with modern facilities, shop and restaurant spaces, and three new blocks of housing above the station.

But residents are not pleased with the scheme as they do not want further high-rise development like Regal House changing the Twickenham landscape.

Chris Gillum, of Crane Park Road, said he found the idea of another tower block shocking.

He said: “In principal of course I’m in favour of redevelopment but the idea of high-rise is shocking – totally out of keeping with our environment.

“We don’t want to create some sort of concrete jungle.”

The council is also concerned about future plans for the site and at Monday’s cabinet meeting agreed a document offering extra guidance to developers should go out to formal public consultation.

A Solum Regeneration spokesman said the company had a good reaction to a leaflet sent out with details of its proposals but wanted to hear all residents’ views.