The Development and Planning Applications Committee of Merton Council met on Thursday 22 January 2026 to discuss a range of planning matters. The committee granted planning permission for a significant redevelopment of the Rainbow Industrial Estate in Raynes Park, which will provide 294 new homes, including affordable housing. The committee also noted reports on planning appeal decisions and a summary of current planning enforcement cases.

Rainbow Industrial Estate, Station Approach, Grand Drive, Raynes Park, SW20 0JY

The committee granted planning permission for the redevelopment of the Rainbow Industrial Estate to provide 294 residential units, with associated car parking, landscaping, and amenity areas. The decision was made subject to a Section 106 agreement and conditions, and referral to the Greater London Authority.

The proposal was met with objections from a representative of 67 petitioners, who raised concerns about potential breaches of policy regarding tall buildings, critical access and safety risks due to the single narrow access point under the railway bridge, flood risks, groundwater displacement, and the strain on local infrastructure such as GP surgeries and schools. They argued the application represented overdevelopment and contradicted Merton's planning policy.

The applicant, David Chalmers, presented the proposal as a careful and considered redevelopment of a previously developed brownfield site. He highlighted that the scheme included affordable homes, family accommodation, wheelchair-accessible units, green spaces, and on-site children's play areas. He also noted that the scheme had been improved during the application process, with enhanced internal layouts, increased dual-aspect homes, enlarged kitchen spaces, and refined façade detailing. The development would contribute CIL receipts of approximately £7.2 million and Section 106 contributions towards transport improvements, active travel, health infrastructure, and step-free access at Raynes Park station. He assured the committee that access and safety were key considerations, with emergency, refuse, and servicing vehicles able to access the site safely, as confirmed by Highway officers, TfL, and the Health and Safety Executive. Improvements to Station Approach were also included.

During the discussion, councillors sought clarification on several points. It was confirmed that the area under the railway bridge would be lit for safety and security, with the specification to be agreed by condition. The NHS contribution would be included in the Section 106 agreement, ensuring it was spent locally and reasonable in scale. Thames Water had raised no objections, subject to conditions, and Merton's Flood Risk Officer was reviewing the drainage strategy. The applicant had provided additional information on inclusive design, including layouts for wheelchair units, and a condition would ensure landscaping was suitable for wheelchair users and other disabilities. Contributions towards step-free access at Raynes Park station would total £680,000, combining Network Rail and council funding. The developer would be responsible for works to the access under the bridge, including lighting and potentially CCTV, secured by condition. A biodiversity net gain of 300% on-site was promised, with swift boxes to be considered as part of ecological enhancements. Bin storage would be purpose-built and accessible to refuse lorries, with a management company likely to handle servicing arrangements. The development would include nine blue badge bays, and all parking spaces would have EV charge points. A condition for boundary treatment details, in consultation with Network Rail, was noted. A car parking management plan would be in place, with an informative to be added regarding the distribution of spaces for disabled residents. The Station Approach access works would be completed by the time 50% of units were occupied. All roofs designated as green in the report were confirmed to be green roofs.

The Chair moved to vote on the officers' recommendation, which included ensuring NHS contributions were spent locally, adding safety lighting and inclusive design to existing conditions, and adding informatives regarding CCTV behind Building B, swift boxes, and the car park management plan with priority for accessible homes. The recommendation was approved with 9 votes for, 0 against, and 0 abstentions.

Planning Appeal Decisions

The committee noted the report on planning appeal decisions. This report detailed recent decisions made by Inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Key decisions included:

• 17 Ravensbury Avenue, Morden: An appeal against the refusal of a lawful development certificate for a side and rear dormer roof extension was allowed.
• 62 Glenthorpe Road, Morden: An appeal against the refusal of a lawful development certificate for a single-storey outbuilding for use incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse was dismissed.
• 54A Longthornton Road, Streatham: An appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the demolition of existing buildings and erection of a part 3, part 2 storey building comprising 5 flats was dismissed.
• 190 Rowan Road, Streatham: An appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a hip to gable roof extension including a rear dormer and front rooflights was dismissed.
• 150 Streatham Road, Mitcham: An appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the retention of a 3m high outbuilding at the rear was allowed.
• Site Between 6 & 8, Bordesley Road, Morden: An appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the erection of a three-storey building with 4 x 2 and 2 x 1-bedroom flats was dismissed.
• 33 Denmark Road, Wimbledon: An appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a ground floor rear and side extension, first floor rear extension, and second floor mansard extension was dismissed.

The report also outlined alternative options for challenging appeal decisions and noted that there were financial implications for the council in cases where costs were awarded against them.

Planning Enforcement - Summary of Current Cases

The committee received an update on the work of the Planning Enforcement Team. The report highlighted that in the period from 18 November 2025 to 6 January 2026, there were 250 current enforcement cases. During this period, 5 new complaints were received, and 10 cases were closed. One new enforcement notice was issued, along with three Breach of Condition Notices and one other notice (PCN, TSN). There were also two new appeals lodged, with seven existing appeals pending determination by the Planning Inspectorate, which has a significant backlog.

The report noted that Merton's Planning Enforcement team had a record-breaking year in 2025, serving 50 more notices than in any previous year since digital tracking began in 2002. The team is also managing the highest volume of prosecutions in the department's history.

Recent enforcement actions detailed included:

• Abbey Wall: Works to address collapse/damage to a listed wall were completed in December 2025.
• 109 Lyveden Road: An enforcement notice was served for an unauthorised two-storey side extension, rear dormer, roof parapets, and boundary treatments to create two self-contained flats. An appeal has been submitted, and the council was preparing its defence.
• 163b Mostyn Road: A breach of condition notice was served for the failure to install landscaping as per planning permission ref no 19/P1235.
• 86 Tavistock Road: An enforcement notice was served for the change of use of a dwellinghouse to a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and the use of an outbuilding as a self-contained residential unit.
• BT Wimbledon telephone exchange, 32 Castleton Road and 5 Netley Gardens: Section 215 notices were served for untidy land at these addresses.
• Land at R/O Stiles West Studios, 46-66 East Road, Colliers Wood: Two notices were served: an enforcement notice for a redundant hoarding and a breach of condition notice for failing to provide car parking and landscaping following the completion of new residential units, contrary to conditions under planning permission ref no: 15/P4741.
• 441 Commonside East: An additional breach of condition notice was served for non-compliance with conditions related to vehicular access, boundary treatments, landscaping, electric vehicle infrastructure, cycle parking, and obscure glazing for windows.
• 14 Cannon Close: An enforcement notice was served for a roof extension, and an appeal was lodged in December 2025, with the council preparing its defence.

The report also included statistics on tree-related enforcement, with 135 tree works applications received and 95% determined within time limits.

The committee noted the contents of the report.