This neighbourhood area covers parts of West Sutton and, similarly to Sutton, Central Cheam is a suburban village with a long history, which is illustrated in its old cottages and houses. The area has a strong character and a unique blend of history, embedded in industry, royalty, and Christianity. The neighbourhood area has a high concentration of grammar and private schools, reflective of its wealthier residents. One cannot stay in Cheam for too long without noticing the fresh air quality that is provided by its large open green spaces, such as Cheam Park or Nonsuch Park.

Cheam is said to mean ‘village by the tree stumps’; the village was gifted to the Canterbury Christchurch Cathedral by King Athelstan in the year 1018. The locality was an area counted in the Doomsday book, at which time it was recorded to have 150 inhabitants. By the 14th century, Cheam was split into an east and west manor, each of which had its own village, with East Cheam being the larger of the two villages, still owned by the Archbishop. From the 14th to 15th century, it was known for its quality of pottery production such as jugs, storage vessels, and cooking pots. In 1538, Henry VIII bought the two manors of Cheam, to make way for the construction of the Nonsuch Palace, unfortunately he died in 1547 around a year before the Palace was ready.

Founded in 1645, Cheam School is the oldest private school in the country. It has a number of royal alumni, including Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and Charles, Prince of Wales. The royal connections don’t end there. Henry VIII’s Nonsuch Palace, a Tudor Palace, was meant to outdo all other Tudor Palaces!

There is an ongoing battle between travellers who have encamped on Nonsuch Park and other areas close to this neighbourhood area; local residents are angry at their behaviour.

In South Cheam, a new luxury development was completed by Bruckland Developments, comprised of 4 new-build semi-detached properties arranged over 3 storeys. In North Cheam, a proposal was recently put forward to build a seven-storey block on an empty site now occupied by the demolished 1960s office building, Victoria House. If approved, it would deliver 74 flats and the flats would have their own balconies and access to communal outdoor spaces and play areas. Another proposal has also been submitted to convert Haredon House, a 1960s building in London Road currently used for office and business functions, into 50 flats, with no affordable housing provided. This is the second time that developer Icona Holdings has proposed a redevelopment for the site, this time aiming to delivering 15 less residential units that the initial, rejected proposal. The proposal has also received a great deal of criticism as while it provides a less dense development, its lack of affordable provision has been condemned by local authority and community members. The developers claims that new proposal renders affordable provision unviable but a final decision on the matter has not yet been announced.