Policy information sourced from the Merton Estates Local Plan.

EP R6 Environmental Protection

  • As the estate is in close proximity to the River Wandle and is shown as being at high risk of fluvial flooding, development proposals will need to be designed by applying a sequential approach to flood risk and include appropriate flood mitigation measures for the site in accordance with national, regional and local planning polices, to ensure the development is safe and does not increase the risk of flooding elsewhere.
  • In accordance with the London Plan policies 5.12 Flood Risk Management and 5.13 Sustainable Drainage and the supporting Design and Construction Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG April 2014), the proposed development must aim to reduce post-development runoff rates as close to greenfield rates as reasonably practicable.
  • Development proposals must demonstrate how surface water runoff is being managed as high up the London Plan policy 5.13 Sustainable Drainage hierarchy as possible.
  • Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) must be part of any major development proposals. Drainage and SuDS should be designed and implemented in ways that deliver other policy objectives for each of the following multi-functional benefits:
    • Blends in and enhances amenity, recreation and the public realm
    • Enhances biodiversity
    • Improves water quality and efficiency
    • Manages flood risk
  • The development must be made safe from flooding, without increasing flood risk elsewhere for the lifetime of the development, taking the latest climate change allowances into account. Potential fluvial and surface water flow paths should be determined and appropriate solutions proposed to minimise the impact of the development, for example by configuring road and building layouts to preserve existing fluvial and surface water flow paths and improve flood routing, whilst ensuring that flows are not diverted towards other properties elsewhere.
  • Proposals should seek to create mini corridors which enhance biodiversity of the estate and create a link between the estate and the surrounding parkland and river corridor habitats.
  • Development should not encroach on the river bank buffer zone, which should be managed for the enhancement of biodiversity along the river corridor and to allow maintenance access to the watercourse, where required.
  • New development must ensure the preservation, protection and enhancement of protected species and habitats within the adjacent Ravensbury Park and should demonstrate that the proposals would result in net biodiversity gains.
  • When preparing development proposals in accordance with policy 5.3: Sustainable design and construction of the London Plan, proposals should include suitable comparisons between existing and proposed developments at each stage of the energy hierarchy in order to fully demonstrate the expected improvements.
  • All domestic solar PV installations should be considered in conjunction with on-site battery storage.
  • Applicants must demonstrate how their plans contribute to improving air quality and provide evidence to demonstrate that passive ventilation strategies employed to prevent overheating will not inadvertently expose residents to poor air quality or unacceptable levels of external noise.
  • Development proposals must be accompanied by a working method statement and construction logistics plan framework that are appropriate and proportionate to the scale and nature of the proposal, whether outline or detailed, the sensitivity of the context and the types and severity of the anticipated impacts.
  • Development proposals should demonstrate, by means of the submission of a site waste management plan, how they will apply the waste hierarchy where waste is minimised, re-used and recycled, and residual waste is disposed of sustainably in the right location using the most appropriate means.

For more information, please see the Estates Local Plan.