Local council authorities have approved the plans put forward to redevelop the Sheerwater Estate near Woking with 922 homes and community facilities proposed.

Balfour Beatty and Pinnacle Housing Association have worked together to draw up plans for the estate regeneration scheme which has been given the green light by Woking Borough Council and will eventually see 576 current homes demolished to pave the way for a modern estate.

The first phase of the four phase project is due to start next year and will be made up of a leisure centre and almost 100 new homes.

Woking Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing Development, Cllr David Bittleston, said that with the approval of the planning committee now in place, the council will now have the final call on whether or not to progress with the regeneration project.

Bittleston said: “It is my hope that we will be able to approve suitable implementation arrangements before Christmas 2016 and be able to start work improving the area by Autumn 2017 with the early implementation of new community leisure facilities at Bishop David Brown School.

“The new housing stock, roads, community and leisure facilities will all ensure the area is a sustainable and desirable place to live for years to come.”

Meanwhile, Balfour Beatty has been chosen by Gatwick Airport to deliver a series of projects under its new £1.2 billion capital investment scheme, delivering expansion in size and passenger capacity.

The international infrastructure firm has been given the job of two frameworks – the Low Complexity Civils Framework and Low Complexity Build, along with the Medium Complexity Build Framework.

It is anticipated that projects delivered in these frameworks will be procured during the next five year period.

Balfour Beatty has enjoyed a long term relationship with Gatwick, having delivered more than 500 projects for the airport.