Junction Tavern, 641 Kingston Road

Permission granted June 2019 for:

CHANGE OF USE FROM PUBLIC HOUSE TO GROUND FLOOR RETAIL (A1 USE) WITH 9 x FLATS ABOVE (COMPRISING 6 x 1 BED AND 3 x 2 BED FLATS) (C3 USE), INCLUDING DEMOLITION OF EXISTING TAXI HIRE BUSINESS WITHIN CURTILAGE.

Planning permission granted in June 2019.  The Developer is continuing with the construction and has been applying for certain conditions, attached to the planning consent, to be discharged, as the building works progress.  For example, in July 2024, for a revision to the location of the cycle parking on the ground floor.

Access Site, 579 – 589 Kingston Road (ex Manuplastics)

REDEVELOPMENT OF SITE TO PROVIDE CLASS E(G)(I) (OFFICE), CLASS E(G)(III) (LIGHT INDUSTRIAL) AND CLASS B8 (SELF-STORAGE) USES, INCLUDING USE OF PART FIRST FLOOR FOR CLASS E(G)(I) (OFFICE) AND/OR CLASS B8 USE (SELF-STORAGE), IN A BUILDING OF UP TO SIX FLOORS, PROVISION OF CAR AND CYCLE PARKING, VEHICLE ACCESS, LANDSCAPING, PLANT AND ASSOCIATED WORKS.

Planning Application submitted 24 April 2023.  The ARA has been advised that, as there is no residential element to this application, it will not be scheduled for the Planning Committee, rather the Planning Officer will make a decision using delegated powers.  However, there is no evidence on the Council’s planning portal that a decision has yet been reached.  If permission is granted the construction works are anticipated to take 18 months in total.

PAG Site, 565 Kingston Road

DEMOLITION OF 3 SINGLE STOREY LIGHT INDUSTRIAL UNITS TO ENABLE REDEVELOPMENT TO PROVIDE 9 X RESIDENTIAL UNITS; SCHOOL (AGES 9- 13) WITH PUPIL CAPACITY OF 180; TEACHING COLLEGE; WORKSPACE; COMMUNITY CENTRE; AMENDED ACCESS; AND ASSOCIATED CAR PARKING.

Planning permission granted 24 August 2023, but subject to resolution of a Section 106 Agreement (a legal agreement between the School and the LB of Merton regarding concessions and financial contributions required to enable the scheme to proceed).  This, apparently, has still not been completed (despite the time lag) and, therefore, the planning consent cannot be implemented.  As a consequence, no works have been undertaken, in particular the demolition of the existing factory.  

We understand the Section 106 is to include a park and walk from Prince George’s playing fields, to limit the number of drop offs directly to the school.  Additionally, that the School will fund the cost of a zebra crossing across Kingston Road near the junction with Sydney Road.  However, please note, these are subject to confirmation, once the Section 106 is signed.

The residents of the nine flats will be allowed parking permits, limited to one per unit, if they drive an emission free car.  Teachers with zero carbon cars would benefit from a similar scheme.  Capacity for the resident and teacher scheme ‘would be measured by the number of spaces available against permits issued’.  The Planning Committee stipulated that a parking survey should be carried out in the immediate area by the Council’s Transport Consultant, to assess what the capacity is now (particularly during the day) and to consider how the parking pressure in the local area would be impacted by the proposals for the new residents and teacher permits.

The construction works are anticipated to take 35 months in total.

18 Whitfield Court, 508 Kingston Road

ERECTION OF A THREE-BEDROOM DETACHED BUNGALOW WITH A SUMMERHOUSE

Planning permission was granted on 28 February 2023 and construction is ongoing.   Merton’s planning enforcement team has carried out an investigation into the construction works after they had received a large number of complaints (Ref: 24/E0089).  This would appear to have resulted in some positive changes to the way the works are being carried out, including deliveries, parking and access.  However, the contractor is progressing the works at pace, with little regard to the disturbance caused to the immediate neighbours.  We understand that the exterior structure is due to be completed shortly, with the interior fit out to take another month or so after that.

Wimbledon Chase Railway Station, Kingston Road & 45-48 Rothesay Avenue

DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING ENTRANCE TO WIMBLEDON CHASE STATION AND ADJACENT RETAIL UNITS AND 45-48 ROTHESAY AVENUE AND THE ERECTION OF A NEW STATION ENTRANCE AND BUILDING RANGING IN HEIGHT BETWEEN THREE TO NINE STOREYS WITH RETAIL USE AT GROUND FLOOR, WITH 74 RESIDENTIAL FLATS ABOVE, ON FIRST TO EIGHTH FLOOR, ASSOCIATED VEHICLE AND CYCLE PARKING, REFUSE AND PLANT.

Planning permission granted 26 April 2023, with the Section 106 Agreement ratified on 1 February 2024.  The ARA has been advised that the Developer is to commence the construction works ’later on in 2024’ and that these would take 24 months to complete.

Land to the rear of 49 to 51 Firstway Raynes Park  – Reference:  23/P1997

ERECTION OF A DETACHED 3 STOREY BUILDING TO ACCOMMODATE 5 X FLATS WITH ASSOCIATED HARD AND SOFT LANDSCAPING, REFUSE AND RECYCLING AND CYCLE STORAGE PROVISION.

Planning permission granted in August 2024 for five flats (4 x 1 bedroom and 1 x 2 bedroom) in a three-storey building which will occupy much of the site.  The scheme is to be car free, with a dedicated store for 6 cycle spaces.  Construction is expected to take around 10 months to complete.  

Footnote:

The ARA is concerned that it is quite possible that the redevelopment of the old Manuplastics site at 579-589 Kingston Road (Aspect Self Storage), the PAG Site, 565 Kingston Road and Wimbledon Chase Railway Station could all take place at the same time and, given the anticipated length of the building works, will doubtless overlap.  The  construction of these three, pretty large, schemes will provide considerable disruption to the local area, even if carried out separately, but their close proximity will exacerbate the disturbance to the immediate area and the Apostle roads in particular.