The 600-space Cattle Market car park next to Kingston Station is set to be sold to help tackle the borough's housing crisis.

Kingston Council has chosen a bidder to redevelop Cattle Market Car Park, which is a two-minute drive from Kingston station.

The car park's basement has been shut since March 2020, at the Met Police's request, after a string of antisocial behaviour incidents.

The council declared the site surplus to requirements in February 2022, so that it could be considered for redevelopment.

The rest of the car park is still open 24 hours a day while these plans are being progressed.

The council has now reviewed offers submitted by bidders to redevelop the car park, which was built in 1985, in response to property consultant Montagu Evans listing it for sale in August 2024.

The authority's Corporate and Resources Committee has been asked by council officers to agree terms with the chosen bidder, who has not been named, at its next meeting on March 20.

A new report by council officers said the authority hopes to enter into an agreement with the chosen bidder in April.

It would then work with the developer to put together plans for the site, with the aim of submitting a planning application in the next two years.

The report said the site is suitable for a significant number of new homes, including affordable housing, shops and offices.

It added: "The disposal of the Cattle Market Car Park for a residential-led development will provide much-needed housing for the borough whilst regenerating a currently underused car park."

The car park is next to the site of the former Kingfisher Leisure Centre, which was demolished in 2022.

The authority agreed plans to award a £40.4million contract to Alliance Leisure Services to build a replacement leisure centre on the same land on March 13.

The council will keep 150 spaces at the Cattle Market Car Park site for the new leisure centre.