Works to demolish a former biothane plant and replace it with a care home are set to get underway this month.

Melliss Ave Devco Limited was given planning permission to turn the former Kew Biothane Site at Melliss Avenue into a care facility in 2018.

Eventually the site - which is surrounded by houses and apartment blocks - will have a five-storey specialist facility built with 89 rooms to house elderly people with existing health conditions.

The site will include public spaces, a children's play area and leisure areas for the residents.

It is near to houses and flats. (Photo Credit: Planning application).

"The care facility will offer specialist extra care homes, for which there is a demonstrable need," the planning application said. 

"The proposed extra care facility will also act as a focal point for the community, and include a restaurant, café, children's play area, fully accessible therapy pool and other social spaces and care facilities." 

And now, some five years after the initial plans were first given the green light, works to clear the site are set to begin after Richmond Council signed off on the first part of the demolition plans.

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Local residents have been told that phase one of the demolition will take place in September and take up to two weeks.  

They have also been told that the demolition is not expected to cause any notable disturbance or disruption. 

Phase one of the demolition will see two of the old tanking structures, the mechanical/electrical housing structure and the Biothane MCC building being knocked down.

A drawing of the site. (Photo Credit: Planning application).

The biothane plant has been out of use since 2015, after Thames Water said it was no longer needed and the site has been set for redevelopment since.