Merton Council has secured a multimillion-pound investment from the Mayor of London to support the building of the borough’s first new council homes in a generation.  

The investment, via the Mayor’s Affordable Homes programme 2021-2026, will allow nearly 100 new homes to be built across four sites in the borough.  

The council has pledged to start construction of a total of 400 council homes across the borough by 2026. These will all be for social rent.  

All homes will meet some of the highest standards of green design, known as PassivHaus.  This reaffirms Merton Council’s plans to create a more sustainable and greener borough. It will also reduce living costs for tenants.  

Leader of Merton Council, Councillor Ross Garrod, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to secure a multimillion-pound outside investment in the borough and have the Mayor’s backing to deliver on our ambitions to build the first council homes in Merton in my lifetime.  

“Our new council homes will help residents through the cost of living crisis as they will be built for social rent and to a high energy efficiency level, keeping running costs lower.   

“The council I lead will make Merton a place where more people can live and raise families in the safe, green, and high-quality homes that they deserve.” 

Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development, Councillor Andrew Judge, added: “We’re very pleased to be building council homes in Merton for the first time in 40 years.  

“This funding from the Mayor is a tremendous boost to our long-term housebuilding investment and ambitions in the years to come, and we look forward to fulfilling our program to build 400 new council homes.” 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m delighted that this multi-million pound investment from my Affordable Homes Programme will support the first new council homes in Merton in a generation.  

“With 400 high-quality new council homes also in the pipeline, this scheme builds on my strong housing record – including the delivery of over 23,000 council homes since 2018 and twice as many council homes as the rest of the country combined – helping to build a better, fairer London for all.” 

The four sites for the new homes are: 

• Farm Road, Morden  
• Elm Nursery, Mitcham 
• Raleigh Garden, Mitcham 
• Canons, Mitcham 

The architect for the project is Weston Williamson + Partners and the council is partnering with leading housing association L&Q for the project management and construction of the homes. 

Vicky Savage, Executive Group Director for Development & Sales, L&Q, said: “We are very pleased to enter this partnership with Merton and trial out an innovative way of delivering a new generation of council housing.

“We strongly believe that housing associations are ideally placed to support local authorities in the face of a deepening housing crisis and sustained cuts to public spending.  

“We are more than builders and estate managers – we are charitable institutions, guided by ethical values and a social mission. Together with our extensive experience in being one of the biggest builders of affordable housing in the sector, this makes L&Q the ideal partner for Merton to help deliver these much-needed social homes.” 

Building a Future Merton. 

Homebuilding is just one part of Merton’s wide-ranging plans to improve housing – and lives – in the borough.  

The council is supporting social housing landlord Clarion in their billion-pound regeneration of three estates. This work will ensure thousands of our residents get the chance to live in some of the most modern homes in London – that are all fit for the future.  

The council’s Landlord Licencing Scheme is holding rogue landlords to account and standing up for private renters, so no one makes a profit from poor housing conditions in our borough. 

This month, the council launches its innovative Home Energy Efficiency Fund to support homeowners to make green improvements to their properties which will help reduce energy bills, during the cost of living crisis and beyond – because greener homes shouldn’t cost the earth.   

And the council has also pledged to build new or refurbish outdated sheltered accommodation to ensure the borough’s most vulnerable residents are safe and secure, and can enjoy the modern homes they deserve when they need it.