The future of former World War II detention and interrogation centre Ham House will be go before Richmond Council's planning committee next week.

Two proposals to convert Latchmere House Prison into differing numbers of homes were submitted earlier this year.

But Berkeley Homes which owns the site, took the applications to appeal after deeming the council to have taken too long to make a decision on the plans.

The Latchmere site, accessible via Church Road, Ham, is split between the Richmond and Kingston boroughs, with the same planning applications submitted to both councils.

The first application, scheme one, would see 73 homes built across the two boroughs, with 13 affordable homes and an off-site contribution.

From this application, 42 homes would be within Richmond and 31 on the Kingston side.

Scheme two would see 89 homes built - 58 on Richmond land - with 34 affordable. The second application would also see new access to the site created via Latchmere Lane.

Despite Kingston Council agreeing to permit both applications, with only one set to be actioned, Richmond Council planning officers are recommending both applications for refusal.

The council said there was not enough on-site affordable housing in the first application and the new access road would be harmful to the character and appearance of green space.

The planning officer's report said: “While it is acknowledged there would be benefits arising from the proposal, including the provision on new residential units, including some affordable housing units, and improvements in the permeability of the site, these would not outweigh the harm identified.”

Berkeley Homes was contacted for comment.