The Merton Council Development and Planning Applications Committee met on 31 July 2025, to discuss town planning applications, planning appeal decisions and planning enforcement. The committee was scheduled to consider a variation of conditions for a development at the Mitcham Gasworks Site, and to note recent planning appeal decisions and a summary of current planning enforcement cases.

Mitcham Gasworks Site

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application to vary conditions attached to planning application 22/P3620 for the Mitcham Gasworks Site, Western Road, Mitcham. The applicant, St William Homes LLP, sought permission to make the following changes to the original plans:

• Reduce the number of homes from 579 to 569.
• Amend the housing mix to include fewer studio and one-bedroom units, and more three and four-bedroom units.
• Make minor adjustments to building footprints.
• Reduce building heights by one storey on blocks D and E, which front Hay Drive.
• Amend internal layouts.
• Add cycle parking spaces.
• Alter elevations.
• Change the energy strategy to improve carbon reduction.
• Remove roof plants.
• Amend the landscape design.

The report pack stated that the applicant also sought the removal of conditions relating to gas boilers, district heat networks, noise from air source heat pumps, and occupation restrictions.

The planning officer's report recommended that the committee grant the variation of condition, subject to conditions and the completion of a Deed of Variation. The Deed of Variation would secure:

• An updated carbon offset contribution.
• An updated Open Mosaic Habitat Contribution, including an updated survey of existing habitat.
• A playspace contribution.
• Confirmation of final housing tenure.

The report pack noted that the heads of terms secured under the original Section 106 agreement¹ would remain unchanged. These included:

• 35% affordable housing provision.
• An air quality contribution of £20,000.
• Be Seen energy monitoring.
• A bus contribution of £475,000.
• Provision of five car club spaces with free membership for three years.
• Restrictions on future occupiers applying for parking permits.
• A car park management plan.
• A controlled parking zone review.
• Cycle hire parking provision.
• An electric vehicle charging plan.
• A fire strategy.
• Highway works.
• Remedial measures for interference with television signals.
• Local employment initiatives.
• Parking space allocation.
• Removal of private rented sector housing.
• Public liaison.
• Removal of a boundary fence.
• Re-provision of a telecommunications mast.
• Sustainable travel vouchers.
• A travel plan.

The report pack included summaries of the consultations undertaken with statutory consultees including Children, Schools and Families, the Environment Agency, LBM Environmental Health, LBM Climate Change, the GLA, Transport for London (TfL) and Historic England.

Planning Appeal Decisions

The committee was scheduled to note a report listing recent planning appeal decisions made by the Planning Inspectorate². The appeals included:

• Orion House, 3 Cranbrook Road, Wimbledon - Appeal allowed against refusal of linked appeals for the part retention and part new proposal for external balustrade with 1.7m obscure glazed glass screens to rear of the third floor.
• 338 Garth Road, Lower Morden - Appeal allowed against refusal of erection of a single storey outbuilding in rear garden.
• 1 Lambourne Avenue, Wimbledon Park - Appeal allowed against refusal of demolition of the house and erection of new house including landscaping front & rear gardens, with depth increase of rear wall at 1st & 2nd floor levels, alterations to side windows at 1st floor level and addition of 2 x rear Juliette balconies.
• 200 Seaforth Avenue, New Malden - Appeal allowed against refusal of prior approval for erection of a single storey rear extension with a depth of 5.00 m, maximum height of 2.9 m and eaves height of 2.6.
• 34 Neath Gardens, Morden - Appeal allowed against refusal of erection of a two storey side extension.
• 28 Beech Grove, Mitcham - Appeal dismissed against refusal of conversion of single dwellinghouse into 2 x self contained flats including erection of part single/part two storey and erection of a rear outbuilding
• 8 Bayham Road, Morden - Appeal dismissed against refusal of prior approval for a single storey rear extension with a depth of 6m, maximum height of 3.30m and eaves height of 3m.
• 27 Wilton Crescent, Wimbledon - Appeal dismissed against refusal of conversion of roofspace to form second floor and erection of a velux room balcony system.
• 56 New Barns Avenue, Mitcham - Appeal dismissed against refusal of awful development certificate in respect of the continued use of property as a house of multiple occupation (HMO class C4).
• 65 Homefield Gardens, Mitcham - Appeal dismissed against refusal of erection of a single storey outbuilding in the rear garden for use ancillary to main dwelling.
• 1 Red Studios Elm Grove, Wimbledon - Appeal dismissed against refusal of additional floor providing class E office space above the existing four storey office building.
• 3 High Street, Wimbledon - Appeal dismissed against refusal of roof extension to provide additional one bedroom studio flat; relocation of rear wall to provide balconies to existing first and second floor flats.
• 3 High Street, Wimbledon - Appeal dismissed against refusal of erection of a first floor rear extension above ground floor annex to accommodate 1 x studio flat, plus the insertion of new window and door in ground floor rear annex.
• Storage Building, ro 111 Kingston Road, Wimbledon - Appeal dismissed against refusal of conversion of building from general storage into 2 dwellings with erection of first floor extension.
• 27 Florence Avenue, Morden - Appeal allowed against removal of condition 4 (sole use as 3 bed 4 person dwellinghouse a & 3 bed 4 person dwellinghouse b), attached to LBM permission 24/P2117 for a single storey rear extension, first floor side/rear extension and hip-to-gable with dormer roof extension. Conversion of extended house into 2 x 3 bedroom dwellinghouses.
• 22 Conway Gardens, Mitcham - Appeal dismissed against refusal of prior approval in respect of the proposed erection of a single storey rear extension with a depth of 4.5m, maximum height of 3.5m and eaves height of 3m.
• 31 Stanford Way, Streatham - Appeal dismissed against enforcement notice for installation of french doors leading to the first-floor roof, creating a roof terrace on the land.

Planning Enforcement

The committee was scheduled to note a report summarising recent work by the Planning Enforcement Team. The report pack stated that, between 3 February 2025 and 17 July 2025, the team had:

• Received 45 new complaints.
• Closed 20 cases.
• Issued 11 notices, including 2 breach of condition notices, 4 enforcement notices, and 5 untidy land notices under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990³.
• Received 60 tree applications and determined 90% of high hedge complaints within time limits.

The report pack provided details of recent enforcement actions, including:

• Replacement of trees at woodland, Seymour Road, Wimbledon, following applications to remove trees in poor condition.
• Clearance of untidy land at 21 Pentlands Close following informal negotiation.
• Negotiation to ensure materials matched approved plans at 2 Hogarth Crescent.
• Service of untidy land notices to land at Mitcham Telephone Exchange, London Road, Mitcham, 87 Park Avenue, 7 Lexden Avenue, Mitcham, 1 Edenvale Road, Mitcham, and 14 Bake Lane.
• Service of an enforcement notice at 1 Edenvale Road, Mitcham, for material change of use and untidy land.
• Service of an enforcement notice at 27 Wilton Crescent for opening out a roof terrace balcony without planning permission.
• Service of an enforcement notice at 31 Glebe Avenue, Mitcham, for a house converted into two flats.
• Service of a breach of condition notice at the Former Mitcham Fire Station, 30 Lower Green West, Mitcham, regarding hoarding still in place after expiry of a temporary permission.
• Service of an enforcement notice at 56 Langdale Avenue, Mitcham, for conversion of a house into two flats.
• Service of an enforcement notice at 50 Faversham Road, Morden, for unauthorised conversion of a single dwellinghouse into two self-contained flats.
• Service of an untidy land notice at 22 Vectis Road, for an abandoned house.
• Service of an enforcement notice at 7 Watery Lane, Wimbledon Chase, regarding removal of gates and a boundary wall, and installation of hardstanding.
• Service of an urgent works notice at Tate Almhouses, Cricket Green, Mitcham, for damage to a wall.
• Demolition of an extension link at 86 Carisbrook Road following informal negotiation.
• Installation of a lawn and planting of a natural hedgerow at 72B Havelock Road, Wimbledon, to comply with planning permission.

The report pack also provided an update on appeals against enforcement notices, including the dismissal of an appeal at 31 Stanford Way regarding the installation of French doors and creation of a roof terrace.