Policy information sourced from the Merton Sites and Policies Plan

DM D4 Managing heritage assets

Links to Core Planning Strategy Policies CS 14 Design; CS 1 Colliers Wood and South Wimbledon Sub-Area; CS 2 Mitcham Sub-Area; CS 3 Morden Sub-Area; CS 4 Raynes Park Sub-Area; CS 5 Wandle Valley Sub-Area and CS 6 Wimbledon Sub-Area.

Policy aim

To conserve and where appropriate enhance Merton’s heritage assets and distinctive character.

Policy

  • Development proposals affecting a heritage asset or its setting will be required to be in accordance with the following criteria:
    • Principles set out in the National Planning Framework (2012) and the detailed guidance set out in the accompanying Historic Environment Planning Practice Guide, the London Plan, and further English Heritage guidance;
    • Merton’s published conservation area character appraisals and management plans and the guidance statements set out in the Borough Character Studies.
  • All development proposals associated with the borough’s heritage assets or their setting will be expected to demonstrate, within a Heritage Statement, how the proposal conserves and where appropriate enhances the significance of the asset in terms of its individual architectural or historic interest and its setting.
  • Proposals that will lead to substantial harm to the significance of, or the total loss of heritage assets will only be granted in exceptional circumstances where substantial public benefits outweigh the harm or loss in accordance with the NPPF or that all of the following apply:
    • the nature of the heritage asset prevents all reasonable uses of the site; and,
    • no viable use of the heritage asset itself can be found that will enable its conservation; and,
    • conservation by grant funding or some form of charitable or public ownership is not possible; and,
    • the harm or loss is substantially outweighed by the benefit of bringing the site back into use.
  • The loss of a building that makes a positive contribution to a conservation area or heritage site, should also be treated as substantial harm to a heritage asset.
  • Outline applications will not be acceptable for developments that include heritage assets.
  • Proposals affecting a heritage asset or its setting should conserve and enhance the significance of the asset as well as its surroundings and have regard to the following:
    • The conservation, or reinstatement if lost, of features that contribute to the asset or its setting. This may include original chimneys, windows and doors, boundary treatments and garden layouts, roof coverings or shop fronts. In listed buildings, internal features such as fireplaces, panelling, ceilings, doors and architraves as well as the proportion of individual rooms may also be of significance.
    • The removal of harmful alterations such as inappropriate additions, non original windows and doors and the removal of paint or pebbledash from brickwork.
  • Where there is evidence of deliberate neglect or damage to a heritage asset, the current condition of the heritage asset will not be taken into account in any decision.

For more information see the Merton Sites and Policies Plan