A developer has asked for permission to turn a tiny ex-public toilet into two homes.

The toilets, opposite Bourne Hall, were auctioned off by the cash-strapped Epsom and Ewell Council in May for £68,000 to the outrage of residents who branded the move "degrading" for the elderly population of Ewell.

They were then sold to a mystery buyer for more than £80,000 in September with planning permission, in principle, for residential development on the site.

A planning application has now been submitted by London-based Mr Uddin, whose agent is architect Kevin Whyte, for "demolition of an existing single-storey toilet block and replacement with a single-storey residential development comprising two one-bedroom maisonettes and rooms in the roof space".

The "good-sized double bedrooms" for the homes would be in the roof, with the main living space on the ground floor.

The application states: "The [ground floor] space has sufficient room to include a six person dining table, sofa, coffee table and chair.

"Due to the small area of the site and its location on a main road, it is not considered appropriate for a family dwelling."

A number of other potential uses were considered by the owner, including keeping it as a public toilet, or turning it into a shop or cafe, but the application states that residential use was "the best all-round route to bringing the site back into use".

The plans also state the borough’s parking services have been contacted to look into the possibility of securing two car parking spaces at Bourne Hall as there is no space on the site for parking.

Do you think the Ewell Village public toilets should be turned into houses?  Email Hardeep Matharu on the newsdesk on hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk or leave a comment below.