Work has started to prepare the site of Merton’s first new council homes in a generation – to build much-needed safe, secure and energy-efficient housing in the borough.
In phase one, Merton Council is building new council homes at four locations around the borough starting with Farm Road Church in Morden.
The other three locations are Elm Nursery Car Park, Mitcham; Raleigh Gardens Car Park, Mitcham; and land at Canons, Madeira Road, Mitcham.
These homes will align with PassivHaus principles on green design and energy efficiency, reaffirming the council’s plans to create a more sustainable borough and reduce living costs for tenants.
Demolition is underway to clear Farm Road Church, ready for construction to begin on the site later this year.
Contractor DDS Demolition has a duty to protect the public, staff on site, and the environment. It will ensure the demolition happens safely by reducing dust, avoiding vehicles going in and out at the busiest times and having a traffic marshall.
The work seeks to protect local wildlife; an ecology survey found there were no roosting bats on the site, however, the work is being carried out during a period when bats are least active.
These developments are supported with a multimillion-pound investment from the Mayor of London’s Affordable Homes programme 2021-2026.
Merton, like so many councils across the country, is facing a shortage of suitable homes to meet increasing demand, particularly for temporary accommodation where the need has risen dramatically in the last few years.
In total, Merton Council has pledged to build 400 new affordable homes across the borough.
Council Leader, Councillor Ross Garrod, said:
The demolition at Farm Road Church is a milestone in our work and ambition to build Merton’s first new council homes in a generation.
Creating new homes in our borough is about improving the availability of housing, as well as investing in our people and places. We’re committed to making sure these new homes provide a good and decent quality of life for all new residents.
Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development, Councillor Andrew Judge, said:
We’re very proud to see the work get underway in building our first new council homes.
Merton’s new council homes will help relieve some of the pressure on our local housing crisis, transforming the lives of individuals and families in the borough by supplying quality, affordable housing that people are proud to call home.
We’re focused on making the new developments as energy efficient as possible, so residents will benefit from warmer homes and lower energy costs.
Contracts Manager at DDS Demolition, Dylan Lovelock, said:
DDS Demolition is incredibly proud to be part of the team delivering new council housing in Merton for the first time in a generation. This milestone represents a real commitment to the community, and dedication to providing much-needed homes for families and future generations.