It will finally decide on whether to give permission to Thames Water to build 148 flats on the beds.

The controversial plan that has provoked a storm of protest from environmentalists and residents.

Last year, Deputy Prime Ministers John Prescott made the "minded" decision to refuse permission to build directly on the beds.

However Thames Water and developer Persimmon Homes persuaded him to change his mind and reopen the inquiry.

But the new inquiry will not cover the same ground as the last one, which lasted a fortnight and heard arguments from Hampton Court, English Heritage, Kingston Council, the Residents' Alliance, the Kingston-Upon-Thames Society and MP Edward Davey.

This one will deal with mainly legal matters, including whether the beds can be considered as "operational" land.

Jill Green of Surbiton Residents' Association said: "We emphasised at the original inquiry the importance of this site to the area.

"It is seen by both local residents and those up and down the river as vital to the environment."

The Long Ditton Residents' Association has also expressed great concern about any possible development of the site.

Chairman Sir George Vallings said: "We are already very disturbed about the impact on the infrastructure that the development could have.

"The St James Homes site in Long Ditton on the borders

of Surbiton is being more

intensively developed than was envisaged when the developers were first given permission.

"We would hate to see the riverside going the same way."