A Teddington playing field has been sold to a developer, sparking fears about the future of the green space.

The sports ground in Udney Park Road was put up for sale last year by owners Imperial College London (ICL) and the university is understood to have rejected bids from groups including Harlequins FC and Teddington Athletic FC in favour of Quantum Group, which announced the purchase on Friday.

A statement from the developer said its proposal was to deliver a “mixed-use development” involving retirement living, but with most of the site regenerated for sporting and community facilities.

Members of that community fear they will lose a valuable green space if Quantum is granted permission to build on the site.

Gareth Bullock, of the Friends of Udney Park Playing Fields, said: “I find it extraordinary when you have a planning policy saying it is a landscape that is protected and someone can just spend money and say we have bought this and will contest that policy.

“I worry they will try and overturn the borough planning policy and build as much as they can and as dense a housing network as they can.

“It is down to the council to defend its planning policy and now is when the real fight will begin.”

Councillor for Hampton Wick Tony Arbour said the council will not support such development on the site and Quantum has bought the land at its own risk.

Echoing comments made by Mayor for London Boris Johnson in July about the possibility of a breach of covenant and the site being built upon, he said he regarded ICL’s strategy of selling to the highest bidder a “scandal and a disgrace”.

He said: “My principal sorrow is that in this year of the world cup the RFU has failed to discharge its responsibility as an original trustee to guarantee the continuing use of these playing fields.

“Residents can be sure that I shall continue to support them in retaining this asset.”

Land director of Quantum Group, Simon Hammond, said the plans would provide elderly care but also a commitment to maintaining the heritage of the ground’s sporting facilities.

He said: “We intend to redevelop the sporting grounds and give the community of Teddington the full benefit of access to the new facilities.”

He added Quantum will be engaging with the community regarding the scheme’s design in the coming months.