Policy information sourced from the Merton Sites and Policies Plan

DM R1 Location and scale of development in Merton’s town centres and neighbourhood parades

Link to Merton’s Core Planning Strategy policies: CS 7 Centres; 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 and CS 6 Wimbledon sub-area.

Policy aim

The policy aims to protect the viability and character of Merton’s town centres and neighbourhood parades whilst ensuring that there are a wide range of town centre type uses to meet the everyday needs of Merton’s residents.

Policy

In accordance with Merton’s Core Planning Strategy Policy CS 7, the council will support new development in Merton’s town centres and neighbourhood parades commensurate with their scale and function, providing it respects or improves the character and local environment of the area by:

  • Supporting proposals:
    • In Wimbledon, Mitcham, Morden and Colliers Wood (upon designation as a District Centre) for development that provides a range of unit sizes, including small (floorspace generally below 280sqm), large (floorspace generally between 280 sqm and 1,000 sqm) and major town centre type uses (generally floorspace over 1,000 sqm).
    • In the designated local centres of Arthur Road, Motspur Park, North Mitcham and Raynes Park for development up to 1,000 sqm per unit of floorspace for town centre type uses. The council will resist major increases (above 1,000 sqm) in town centre type use floorspace in local centres unless it contributes to the council’s regeneration objectives.
    • that do not amalgamate existing ground floor shopping frontages in Wimbledon Village local centre so as to result in a large unit (with a floorspace of 280sqm or more).
  • Maintaining neighbourhood parades, as designated on the Policies Map 2013, to provide convenience shopping and other services within walking distance of local residents. Large increases in commercial floorspace in neighbourhood parades will be resisted.
  • Maintaining and enhancing the range of unit sizes available in Merton’s town centres, by resisting the amalgamation of existing units in Wimbledon and Colliers Wood unless it contributes to the council’s regeneration objectives.

For more information see the Merton Sites and Policies Plan