A library will be revamped by a housing developer in exchange for building affordable housing above the facility.

West Barnes Library in New Malden could be replaced by a five-storey block, adding affordable housing, toilets and a community hall to the library.

The proposal follows a similar development model for Raynes Park Library which Merton Council said will make libraries financially sustainable at a time when the council is having to make £32m savings across public services.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting last Monday, Councillor Nick Draper, cabinet member for community and culture, said: "A developer who is paying the council to build a new and better library - that's important to me because that library won't need the £75,000 it currently needs spent on it.

"It will be cheaper to run and have better services."

Councillor Mark Allison, cabinet member for finance said: "This is the type of development the council is going towards as a result of the cuts.

"We are having to look at all of our services and this is a way of providing it with the least impact on the council taxpayers of Merton."

Results of a consultation undertaken between September and October revealed strong support for redevelopment, with almost 80 per cent of respondents saying they would be more likely to visit an improved library.

The consultation, which was completed by 427 residents, also revealed the top three services people wanted from the library were books, public toilets and a children's area.

Merton Council is now seeking a developer to carry out the works, which it hopes will be completed by autumn 2017.

There will be a further consultation about the library's interior design after a developer is chosen next year.