Merton Planning Architects

THE AREA

Home to Wimbledon grand slam tennis tournament, the London Borough of Merton boasts 2,150 acres of beautiful parks (such as Wimbledon Park) and open spaces. Crime is low and there are lots of good schools. Unemployment is below average and it is viewed as quite a wealthy area. From Wimbledon Village to Wimbledon Common, it is a leafy, sleepy retreat. But when the tennis players and fans arrive, it gets as busy as Edinburgh during its Festival Fringe. Housing tends to be family-oriented, and varies from cottage stlye terraces in Wimbledon to large houses near the Common. However, there are some new builds emerging around Southfields.

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MERTON PLANNING

For the development of individual dwellings, Merton Planning seeks to limit CO2 emissions in line with environmental awareness and sustainability, so applications to level and rebuild would need to rigorously demonstrate these environmental requirements.* If the original house is sound, the borough opposes new builds on the grounds of the environmental effects during construction. Regarding the development of groups of flats, Merton Planning’s housing policies include allowance for certain groups of people – especially the vulnerable – in the interest of social inclusion. Their aim is to ensure a mix of accommodation – in terms of the care element – in accordance with what support such residents require. The council policy also seeks to be empathetic to neighbouring residents. They are looking to protect those facilities and would not favour development applications which would result in the loss of such community-based facilities.* [Other groups which are also considered are within secure units and travelling people.] As well as social inclusion, another of Merton’s ideal aims is to adequately address community housing requirements in a way that is sustainable for projected population rises. They also want to ensure a successful social mix and community adhesion, possibly to reflect the multi-faith aspect of the family-oriented borough. Their housing policy refers to waiting list social data, available plots and feasibility regarding delivery of housing units from contractors. Merton does not favour gated developments,* which go against their ethos for community spirit and public thoroughfare. Sites in Merton are not below average cost for London. With new developments, Merton strives for a good mix of sizes. In new blocks of flats, they would approve approximately 1/3 each of 1, 2 and 3 bed flats* respectively, with a slight increment in the allocation for 3 beds. Applications which would lose GIA (Gross Internal Area) would be resisted.* It is interesting that house prices in Merton are above average, yet 60% of affordable housing is social and the remaining 40% is higher at intermediate level for rental or sale. Merton’s follows the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) regarding affordable and intermediate housing definitions. (Affordable rent has to be a 8o% of market rent or less, in accordance with the London Plan.) Their policies require new builds to be at Lifetimes Homes Standard so they can be adapted for disability. Also supported care facilities need features which increase security and reduce crime by design. The council also will not favour applications that lose student housing (or other shared housing)*, unless the area has a surplus. They favour the development of student housing,* if permanent housing will not be lost. *(Advice in italics.)

PLANNING & ARCHITECTS’ SERVICES IN MERTON

• Planning Application Drawings (including Plans, Sections, Elevations etc.)
• Retrospective Planning
• Building Regulation Drawings for Building Control in Hammersmith and Fulham
• Consultancy for Commercial Development
• 3D Visualisations (Immersive Design)
• Interior Design
• Spatial Planning and Layout
• Feasibility Consultancy