As part of Merton Council’s ambitions to build the first council homes in a generation, further plans were approved last night by the Development and Planning Applications Committee for the first 93 – taking us a step closer to delivering the safe, secure, and energy efficient homes Merton needs.

The committee unanimously passed amendments to the original planning applications at four sites across Mitcham and Morden, bringing them up to the most current building regulations and standards and designating all the homes for social rent. 

This decision is the final stage in developing plans for the 93 new homes at Elm Nursery Car Park, Mitcham; Raleigh Gardens Car Park, Mitcham; Land at Canons, Madeira Road, Mitcham; and Farm Road Church, Morden. 

These developments are supported with a multimillion-pound investment from the Mayor of London’s Affordable Homes programme 2021-2026.

In total, Merton Council has pledged to build 400 new council homes across the borough – all for social rent.  

These homes will align PassivHaus principles around green design and energy efficiency. This reaffirms Merton Council’s plans to create a more sustainable and greener borough and reduce living costs for tenants. 

Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development Councillor Andrew Judge said:

“We’re very pleased to be building council homes in Merton for the first time in a generation.

“The recent decisions by Merton’s Planning Committee allows us to bring forward the first phase of our housing programme, delivering well designed, energy efficient and genuinely affordable homes for the people of Merton.

“The council’s investment, supported by the Mayor of London shows our long-term housebuilding commitment and ambitions in the years to come, and we look forward to starting our programme to build 400 new council homes.”

The planning applications for the four sites originally received approval in July 2020.

Merton Council acknowledges the programme’s delivery partners: architects Weston Williamson + Partners; development partner L&Q Housing; planning partner Rolfe Judd Planning; sustainability partner Quoda; landscape partner Turkington Martinn; and engineering partner Curtains.