Walton swimming pool site sold for homes
The site of a former public swimming pool in Surrey has been sold to a developer after residents lost a battle to have it declared a village green.
Elmbridge Borough Council said it had sold the former Walton Pool site to Linden Homes.
Outline planning permission has already been granted for 34 homes on the site in Kings Close, Walton-on-Thames.
The pool, which closed in 2006, was replaced by a new leisure centre in Waterside Drive.
Residents opposed to the housing development tried to protect the site by making an application to have a grass area in front of the pool designated as a village green.
They argued that local people had used it for recreation for nearly 50 years.
But a planning inspector ruled against the classification following a public inquiry in 2010.
The council said it expected a detailed planning application to be submitted by the developer within the next few weeks.