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Local planning news

by Wimbledon Town & Dundonald Lib Dems on 9 June, 2018

Last week there was a meeting of Merton’s “Design Review Panel” – a Panel of architects and design experts, which comments on proposals from developers. Part of the meeting is confidential – where the developers have not yet put in formal planning applications, and we can only say a limited amount about those discussions.

YMCA tower block
You may recall that in 2013 the YMCA eventually withdrew plans for a 24 storey tower on the Broadway, after a public outcry and residents’ campaign. They now have a proposal for a 13 storey building – five storeys higher than any other building in the area. This is not yet a formal application but we will be keeping a very close eye on it.
27–39 Hartfield Road.

This is the block that includes Copperfields Bookshop on the corner of Hartfield and Beulah Roads. The proposal is for an eight-storey hotel – the number of floors has been reduced from nine the last time the Design Panel reviewed it.

The site of The Slug bar opposite was previously given planning permission for a hotel, though that was subsequently changed to a seven-storey office building.

180–194 The Broadway
This is next to the YMCA, where it is proposed to demolish the existing two-storey Victorian buildings and replace with a 6 storey office building.

Details are in the public domain and the Panel was not at all happy with the design, which appeared to have been done without reference to the type of buildings currently on The Broadway. Despite encroaching on the light of the YMCA site, the developers have had no discussion with the YMCA. This proposals was given a “red rating” – ie the worst possible.

Masterplan for Wimbledon
It was clear from the discussions at the Design Review Panel that the lack of a proper over-arching plan for the area – including, for example, details on appropriate heights of new buildings – is a real issue. The Council is belatedly developing a “Masterplan”, which should be published in draft in a couple of months (it is already delayed from February) .

There will be a public consultation but we have some concerns that the plan will be approved only by the Council cabinet, none of whom are councillors representing Wimbledon wards. We will be seeking to ensure that Wimbledon councillors of all parties are able to have a say on this.

We are also working with local residents to develop a Wimbledon town centre “Neighbourhood Plan” – this is a way of turning ordinary people’s views about the area into planning rules. It will be developed by residents and not by Council officials.

We hope you have found this update useful, please do get in touch if there’s anything else we can assist with or if you are interested in finding out more about the Neighbourhood Plan.

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