On 21 December 2024 EastSheenMatters asked questions about the future use of this property. The purchaser is a company called Little House Developments. You will have seen it behind boarding for some months.

At that time it was thought that their plans did not include a change of use requiring a planning application and that they intended to refurbish the property with a view to running it as a ”family club”.

But some aspects of the new plans do require planning permission and an application has now been submitted to Richmond Council – on 20 June 2025. The decision due date is 15 August 2025.

The application states that there will be alterations and extensions to the existing building for operation as a multi-level leisure facility . The Council gave permission for part of this three years ago and accepts that other parts fall within the existing Class E use. The plans now include:

• a third floor mansard roof extension, ie four sloping sides which become steeper halfway down;
• erection of a plant room;
• creation of a roof terrace to the main roof;
• shopfront alterations;
• creation of new means of escape and enclosure of existing external staircase to the rear of the building;
• excavation work to basement level to include two swimming pools;
• erection of outbuildings to the rear to serve an external play area;
• new garden gates along Larches Avenue;
• external enclosure of a bike and buggy store and bin store to Larches Avenue;
• provision of disability parking space; and
• loading bay.

To see the full application go to https://planning.richmond.gov.uk/richmond/application-details/235736