Two people stormed out and two councillors were asked to leave a heated meeting about Tolworth Tower on Monday night.

Developers CNM Estates explained its plans to build four new mixed-use buildings next to the iconic tower at the development control committee in the Guildhall.

The plans would see the building currently home to the Broadway Bar, Garner’s funeral directors, Costa coffee shop and Boots demolished to make way for new mostly residential buildings, which would have commercial space on the ground floor.

But Tolworth business owners said they did not want the project to become "another Greenway".

Peter Georgiou owns Code The Salon on the Broadway.

He said: "We want the area to feel more vibrant but after what happened with the Greenway we are concerned.

"That project completely flattened the businesses. I had a 20 foot high pile of rubble outside my shop and had to lose a stylist because of the reduction in footfall.

"My questions have not been answered tonight."

The extra traffic some 400 new homes would cause was also a point of contention during the meeting.

Claims that the level of traffic around Tolworth Tower roundabout had been decreasing year on year prompted two residents to storm out.

One shouted: "Absolutely rubbish. You don’t live here. You don’t know anything."

Committee chair councillor Richard Hudson was in the audience after giving up his position to start a Tolworth Deserves Better Campaign against overdevelopment in the area.

He said: "We all accept that something needs to be done with the Tolworth site.

"But this is not it. The density is well over the London plan."

"The recommendation has already come out to approve. I am not sure that there is anything that officers won’t recommend for approval."

Coun Hudson was backed by Chessington North and Hook councillor Andrew Day and both were asked to leave the meeting by acting chair councillor Hugh Scantlebury after they spoke against the project. This followed protocol as the members had 'pre-determined' the application, meaning they are unable to be involved in the decision making process but may still address the committee before withdrawing.

Concerns were also raised about the lack of affordable housing in the development.

CNM Estates chairman Wahid Samady defended his company’s proposals to expand the building it bought for £45m back in 2014.

He argued that high building costs made affordable housing unviable but said the company would be offering £13m into the community.

He said: "CNM has done more for affordable housing than any other developer in the borough. We don’t mess around with affordable housing and that is a fact.

“We don’t want to disrupt anyone and we have a plan in place that will ensure this doesn’t happen. I am meeting with Mr Georgiou and his father to go over their concerns.

“There are three points we would make. We will make sure no one is disrupted, by going from office to residential space traffic will be reduced and, the building is high, but will fit in with the area.”