Policy information sourced from the Merton Sites and Policies Plan

DM D2 Design considerations in all developments

Links to Core Planning Strategy policies CS 13 Open Space, Nature conservation, Leisure and Culture; CS 14 Design; CS 15 Climate Change and CS 16 Flood Risk Management.

Policy aim

To achieve high quality design and protection of amenity within the borough.

Policy

  • Proposals for all development will be expected to meet all the following criteria:
    • Relate positively and appropriately to the siting, rhythm, scale, density, proportions, height, materials and massing of surrounding buildings and existing street patterns, historic context, urban layout and landscape features of the surrounding area;
    • Use appropriate architectural forms, language, detailing and materials which complement and enhance the character of the wider setting;
    • Provide layouts that are safe, secure and take account of crime prevention and are developed in accordance with Secured by Design principles;
    • Ensure appropriate provision of outdoor amenity space, whether public, private or communal which accords with appropriate minimum standards and is compatible with the character of surrounding areas;
    • Ensure provision of appropriate levels of sunlight and daylight, quality of living conditions, amenity space and privacy, to both proposed and adjoining buildings and gardens;
    • Protect new and existing development from visual intrusion, noise, vibrations or pollution so that the living conditions of existing and future occupiers are not unduly diminished;
    • Ensure provision of appropriate energy efficient external lighting that provides safe and secure environments while not causing light pollution that adversely affects neighbouring occupiers or biodiversity;
    • Conserve and enhance the natural environment, particularly in relation to biodiversity and wildlife habitats and gardens;
    • Ensure trees and other landscape features are protected;
    • Ensure that landscaping forms an integral part of any new development where appropriate;
    • Ensure the highest practical standards of access and inclusion and be accessible to people with disabilities;
    • Ensure that construction waste is minimised and promote sustainable management of construction waste on-site by managing each type of waste as high up the waste hierarchy as practically possible;
    • Ensure that the traffic and construction activity do not adversely impact or cause inconvenience in the day to day lives of those living and working nearby, and do not harm road safety or significantly increase traffic congestion;
    • Ensure that sustainable design to make effective use of resources and materials, minimise water use and CO2 emissions are achieved by expecting these to be incorporated in the initial design stages

Basements and subterranean developments

  • In addition, proposals for basement and subterranean developments will be expected to meet all the following criteria:
    • Be wholly confined within the curtilage of the application property and be designed to maintain and safeguard the structural stability of the application building and nearby buildings;
    • Not harm heritage assets;
    • Not involve excavation under a listed building or any garden of a listed building or any nearby excavation that could affect the integrity of the listed building, except on sites where the basement would be substantially separate from the listed building and would not involve modification to the foundation of the listed building such as may result in any destabilisation of the listed structure;
    • Not exceed 50% of either the front, rear or side garden of the property and result in the unaffected garden being a usable single area;
    • Include a sustainable urban drainage scheme, including 1.0 metre of permeable soil depth above any part of the basement beneath a garden;
    • Not cause loss, damage or long term threat to trees of townscape or amenity value;
    • Accord with the recommendations of BS 5837:2012 ‘Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction recommendations’;
    • Ensure that any externally visible elements such as light wells, roof lights and fire escapes are sensitively designed and sited to avoid any harmful visual impact on neighbour or visual amenity;
    • Make the fullest contribution to mitigating the impact of climate change by meeting the carbon reduction requirements of the London Plan.
  • The Council will require an assessment of basement and subterranean scheme impacts on drainage, flooding from all sources, groundwater conditions and structural stability where appropriate. The Council will only permit developments that do not cause harm to the built and natural environment and local amenity and do not result in flooding or ground instability. The council will require that the Design and Access statement accompanying planning applications involving basement developments demonstrate that the development proposal meets the carbon reduction requirements of the London Plan.

For more information see the Merton Sites and Policies Plan