Policy information sourced from the Kingston Upon Thames Core Strategy

MC1 Maldens and Coombe Neighbourhood

The Council will:

a. Seek to create a District Heat Network that links to the existing Combined Heat and Power facility at Kingston Hospital

b. Manage and reduce the risk of flooding by:

  • protecting open spaces adjoining the Beverley Brook and Hogsmill River Corridor from future development
  • ensuring proposed redevelopment addresses the flood risk associated with Beverley Brook and Hogsmill River and include flood risk mitigation measures

c. Maintain and improve access to open spaces through:

  • implementing its Green Spaces Strategy, Parks Management Plans and associated Annual Implementation Plans in order to meet deficiency in publicly accessible natural/semi-natural open space and target qualitative improvements at:
    • Barton Green
    • Manor Park and Beverley Park for submission for Green Flag status
    • the public play area at Georgia Road
    • Dickerage Lane Recreation Ground
    • Blagdon Road Recreation Ground
  • exploring increased access to private open spaces, e.g. golf courses
  • seeking to retain large gardens and plot sizes, particularly in Coombe, where not only do they hold amenity value but also contribute towards meeting environmental needs, e.g. encouraging biodiversity, acting as natural drainage to reduce surface water run-off and flood risk, and supplementing allotments by providing land to grow food
  • targeting the deficiency in allotment provision across the Neighbourhood by improving/expanding allotment facilities in line with the Council’s Allotment Strategy

d. Promote and enhance sustainable transport options by:

  • improving the local network of pedestrian and cycle routes particularly to New Malden, Local Centres, schools and other key facilities
  • working with the London Boroughs of Merton and Sutton to improve cross boundary links particularly to Worcester Park Station and District Centre from the surrounding residential areas
  • working with partners to provide fully secure cycle parking facilities at New Malden and Worcester Park Stations
  • working with partners to manage congestion whilst improving road safety, bus priority and pedestrian crossing opportunities on the A3, Burlington Road and Malden Road
  • better management of parking supply in New Malden District Centre especially at Blagdon Road Multi-Storey Car Park
  • working with Kingston Hospital, Kingston University and other large employers and trip generators to facilitate accessibility by sustainable transport to their sites, e.g. through the development of Travel Plans

e. Reinforce the character and identity of Maldens and Coombe and enhance its attractiveness as a place to live, work and enjoy by:

  • working with public, private and voluntary sector stakeholders and promoting and managing development opportunities, particularly in the Cocks Crescent area of New Malden District Centre
  • applying its high quality design principles to protect and enhance the features that contribute positively to the character of the Neighbourhood. In particular it will:
    • support designation of a gateway to the Borough from Worcester Park at Malden Green/Worcester Park Station
    • seek to retain the characteristic of large residential plot sizes in Coombe Hill and encourage development in line with existing local character
    • support the identification of CI and Apex Towers as landmarks
    • support public realm improvements as follows:
      • in New Malden District Centre
      • to promote the village feel at The Triangle Local Centre
      • at Burlington Road Local Centre
      • around the Robin Hood Roundabout and the approach to the Robin Hood Gate entry to Richmond Park

f. Welcome affordable housing across the Neighbourhood and work with developers and landowners to provide a range of new homes, including family housing with gardens outside New Malden District Centre and higher density homes within the District Centre

g. Encourage employment opportunities in the Neighbourhood by:

  • continuing to protect St John’s Industrial Area through improvements and redevelopments to meet the needs of small and medium sized enterprises and to improve the layout and functions of the area
  • supporting a partnership approach to improvements at Kingston Hospital and Kingston University’s Kingston Hill campus
  • focusing additional opportunities in New Malden District Centre, recognising the important role it plays in the economy through expansion and redevelopment of existing retail and business locations and opportunity sites such as Cocks Crescent
  • working with the University and other partners to create economic opportunities to retain the talent it develops

h. Maintain and enhance retail in Maldens and Coombe Neighbourhood by:

  • supporting in-principle additional food stores of an appropriate scale, within New Malden District Centre, to attract shoppers and help retain a greater proportion of local retail expenditure
  • welcoming proposals for appropriate development on opportunity sites. For example, the Cocks Crescent area of the District Centre has potential for a comprehensive mixed use redevelopment, including leisure and community uses, to enhance the vitality and viability of the District Centre. There is also some development potential on sites around the Railway Station, e.g. at Coombe Road.
  • favouring proposals for new, or changes of use to, A1 convenience shops in areas with poor access to Local Centres, especially in the Motspur Park area which has the greatest deficiency (see Figure 22)
  • improving Local Centres where necessary, in particular:
    • Burlington Road - where public realm improvements and diversification of uses is needed
    • Kingston Road East - where a limited amount of short-term parking is needed
    • Kingston Vale - expansion of the Local Centre

i. Maintain and enhance health services by:

  • working in partnership with local health providers and Kingston Hospital Trust to support the expansion of the hospital for operational reasons where necessary and to improve accessibility to Kingston Hospital
  • working with local health providers to upgrade, expand and redevelop new GP surgeries (in accessible locations) within Coombe Hill and Old Malden, where surgeries are at capacity, and encourage shared accommodation where practical

j. Work with the Metropolitan Police, property owners and developers to secure the provision of a modern base for the Coombe Hill police officers within or closer to its policing area

k. Facilitate the provision of education by:

  • working in partnership with Kingston University to continue to improve facilities at the Kingston Hill campus to meet operational requirements. The needs of the University should be balanced with ensuring that development is sensitive to the character and environment of the campus and the surrounding area, which is a Conservation Area.
  • considering the expansion of Neighbourhood schools to provide sufficient school places to meet the increasing demand and changing needs, e.g.
    • the potential expansion of Coombe Boys, Coombe Girls, Holy Cross and Richard Challoner Schools
    • developing a new primary school (up to 4 forms of entry) off California Road, as part of the Hogsmill Valley Masterplan proposals

For more information please see the Kingston Upon Thames Core Strategy