Plans to turn a "tired and dated" former car workshop into two homes have been put forward to Richmond Council.

If approved, the scheme would see the 19th century building on the corner of Chapel Road and Orleans Road converted into two, two-bedroom homes.

Plans state the building - which had been used for storage since the turn of the 21st century - has been vacant since 2020.

And a report from a local estate agent said there were no takers for the "well hidden" site, despite it being "promoted for numerous potential occupiers".

"The building has been in the ownership of the client's family for over 50 years," the application said. 

"It has been vacant for the last four years. 

"The proposed application has been driven by the families desire to breathe new life into a vacant warehouse, restore a cherished building to active use and ultimately create a building that far better suits the prevailing residential character of the area."

An artist's impression of the proposed new homes (image via planning application)

According to the plans, the building was once home to the Orleans Motor Car Company.

It says an Orleans Motor Company brochure shows a 1907 car, built at The Orleans Works. 

And the application says the new homes would keep in mind the historical and architectural significance of the site.

"The proposed design looks to enhance the character of the conservation area by taking a careful approach to deciding which elements are retained and which are replaced," it said.

It added: "Alterations to the exterior of the building have been sensitively considered. 

"The architectural language of the proposed detailing has been heavily influenced by the surrounding context, rich with texture."

See the full application here.