Local developments

Workspace to sell Rainbow Ind Est

We have received a press release from Workspace Group PLC, dated 8 November 2024, announcing that the company has exchanged contracts for the sale of its “Rainbow Industrial Estate”. 

This industrial estate is located between the railway lines, adjacent to the the south-west side of Raynes Park Station. Its access is down a private road at the junction of Grand Drive and Approach Road. (SW20 0JY). 

RPWBRA members may recall that, back in 2015, Workspace secured planning consent for a mixed-use redevelopment of the industrial estate comprising 224 residential units and 37,000 sq. ft. of new light industrial space (Merton Planning Application: 14/P4287). 

Included as a condition of the consent to the application was the provision of a “Kiss and Ride” drop-off and pick-up area on the south side of the Station (Application: 14/P4288) 

As reported in last month’s Guide, the progress of the development was discussed at our recent open-meeting in West Barnes Library, together with the problems caused by vehicles being left parked in the “Kiss and Ride” bays and obstructing the pavement. 

Whilst Workspace has now constructed a number of the new industrial units on the site and completed most of the work for the “Kiss and Ride”, much the scope of the planning application has yet to be constructed, including all of the 224 dwellings and the mini-roundabout at the “Kiss and Ride”. 

Currently, we do not know who the new owner will be and what their intentions will be for completing the scope of the two planning consents. 

Hopefully, they will exert better control over the misuse of the “Kiss and Ride” by long-term parking. 

Jerry Cuthbert