A former television broadcasting studio where popular children’s show Wizadora and cookery programme Ready Steady Cook were filmed will be demolished and turned into 50 new homes.

Brycbox House site, in Cocks Crescent New Malden, was turned into a television studio in 1985 by production company Fountain and was home to the popular shows produced by GMG Endemol.

Before then it was used as a popular youth centre which specialised in drama and arts and was once praised for its educational and recreational work.

Now the building will now be transformed into a block of 40 flats and 10 houses, with space for 56 cars, 44 bikes and communal and private gardens, after Developers Barratt Homes won planning permission.

During its time as a youth centre the building, which was designed by the Kingston borough architect, included two studios, a dressing room, coffee bar and lighting control room.

An article headlined "Borough is so proud of its Brycbox" featured in the Surrey Comet on January 19, 1974, and explained the work of the club.

It said: "There is a box-line grey stone building just off Burlington Road, New Malden-from the outside it looks rather like a fortress of the foreign legion but once through the doors the illusion vanishes.

"Billiards, darts, table tennis and all the usual youth club activities are not part of the set up."

A development report in 1978 said: "This is still a young project playing an ever increasing and important role in developing the arts and education.

"Kingston should feel very proud to have one of the few projects its kind in the community situated firmly in its educational system."

The building was also used by Christian television station Revelation TV and music channel Musflash TV.

Kingston Council’s development control committee gave the go ahead to the plans on Thursday, March 22.