Plans for a vacant petrol station in Surbiton will not be revealed until next year.

But drivers who need petrol or a late-night pasty will probably have to go to Thames Ditton or Tolworth instead.

The former Esso garage in Brighton Road is due to be demolished in November after forecourt owners Rontec sold the site to property developers Indigo Scott last month.

It means the land will almost certainly be converted into new homes – although how many remains to be seen.

Jon Davis, from Indigo Scott, said: “We’re at the very early stages of discussion with the council.”

A planning application could be submitted next year, he said.

Liberal Democrat leader and St Mark’s Councillor Liz Green said: “Obviously you’ve got flats nearby. It seems like a logical thing that they would apply for. We do need housing.”

But council leader Kevin Davis lamented the loss of another petrol station in the borough.

He said: “I think there is an issue regarding petrol stations. We seem to be losing quite a lot of them at a fairly fast rate.

“I don’t know whether it’s people buying less petrol.

“Even the one at Tolworth [Esso, in the Broadway] took an inordinate amount of time [to refurbish].”

There are five petrol tanks below ground, filled with water, according to documents filed to Kingston Council.

These will also be removed and the surrounding soil tested for contamination.

A risk assessment for hazardous materials said containers would be clearly labelled and further assessments would be available to workers on site.

The forecourt will be broken up and reused. Demolition work is to begin on November 6.

Hopes that a cash machine would remain in Brighton Road were buoyed by a separate planning application from Cardtronics UK.