A new community centre and affordable homes could get the green light in Richmond.

Richmond Council want to knock down the old Elleray Hall community centre and build 16 new flats as it said it isn’t fit for purpose and is too expensive to maintain.

The centre was built in 1911 but now the authority plans to build a new centre just metres away off North Lane in Teddington.

The new community centre will include a kitchen and café, as well as a garden terrace, quiet room for relaxing and specialist rooms for hairdressing, chiropody, flu jabs by health services.

Parking for a minibus is planned with one disabled parking space, staff spaces and bike storage.

The new affordable homes will feature 12 one-bedroom apartments, two two-bedroom homes and two one-bedroom wheelchair-accessible flats on the ground floor – all with either a private or communal garden space.

Joan Barnett, chairman at Elleray Community Association, added: “After so many years of discussion and delay, it is reassuring to see our councillors and the local authority really getting behind the need to provide an excellent new community centre and developing a proposal that gives our members just about everything they need while offering so many benefits to others in our community.”

Councillor Michael Wilson, lead member for communities, said: “We are one step closer to being able to provide the residents of Teddington and the surrounding areas with a fit-for-purpose community centre – a community asset that will have flexible indoor space as well as outdoor space, bringing benefits to our older residents and offering people of all ages many opportunities to become more active, engaged and motivated.   “By moving the centre to a nearby location, as well as being able to provide much needed affordable housing we can also offer service users continuous service.”

Developer Richmond Council said in planning documents: “The vision for the new community centre is for it to be at the heart of the local community. It will continue to offer core services for older residents, but also allowing and encouraging a wider range of groups and individuals to use the centre, enabled by a more flexible design.”