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
West Barnes Gasholders - Redevelopment
Some of our members are wondering about the future of the obsolete gasholders, near Motspur Park Station. These are situated in the Kingston constituency, but are scheduled for demolition, in line with Ofgem strategy. Redevelopment of the site would also affect residents in the West Barnes area in terms of access and construction works. Members are been keeping an eye on the proposals and we understand that, although architects’ plans have been drawn up, there has not yet been a recent planning application submitted to Kingston Council.
However, there was a broad application made in 2017 and Scotia Gas Network (SGN) also notified Merton Planning in 2018 about the need for a protected access route to the site from West Barnes Lane. Further details as soon as we have them.
Merton Building Control
In July 2024, we received the following useful information from Building Control at the London Borough of Merton
From: Building Control <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Our telephone lines are open from 9am-12pm (Midday) on weekdays: 020 8545 3145 or 020 8545 3931. Our surveyors take calls between 2-5pm. For Dangerous Structures call the above numbers, if these are busy or you are calling outside of office hours call: 020 8543 9750.
Your enquiry can often be resolved with these frequently used resources:
Building Control
Building Control Application Forms & Fees
Booking Inspections
We take bookings via the official LABC App:
Planning
Do I need Planning Permission/Permitted Development Rights
If you are a flat, maisonette or a Listed Building you do not benefit from permitted development and you will require the formal consent of the Council.
Should you require a formal determination that you do not require Planning Permission from the Local Planning Authority, you would need to apply for a Lawful Development Certificate. Details of these and how to apply can be found on the Planning Portal link.
If your proposal doesn’t fall within Permitted Development, you can also apply for Planning Permission from the Planning Portal website.
Planning Guidance, Pre-Application advice and Planning Enforcement
Property Searches and Land Matters
Planning & Building Control Documentation/Decisions/S106/TPO’s
Historic documents can be requested by contacting the relevant email address:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Listed Buildings/Locally Listed Buildings
Land Ownership
We do not hold records of land ownership, please contact Land Registry at;
Land Registry Office, Trafalgar House, 1 Bedford Park, Croydon, CR0 2AQ
0844 892 1111.
Party Wall
We do not deal with Party Wall queries, information can be found on the central government website.
Boundary Disputes
This is a civil matter, you would need to seek Legal advice. If you do not have your own representative, you can to speak to the Merton Citizens Advice Bureau.
AELTC - Grand Drive - March 2024
Residents in the Grand Drive cottages continue to experience excessive inconvenience from extra traffic, parking, noise and intrusive lighting associated with the AELTC development. Mary-Jane Jeanes has been looking at the various plans and agreements and we are liaising with one of our members who lives on this stretch of Grand Drive.
More LESSA News - March 2024
Planning Conditions
We have been forwarded to following extract from an email to Cllr John Oliver, which he received from the LBM Planning Department, concerning the “LESSA” Site, Meadowview Road.
“ ……. pre-commencement conditions remain outstanding, so at this point the development cannot lawfully commence. Critically, pre-commencement conditions requiring the submission of a Working Method Statement, Construction Logistics Plan & Demolition and Construction Environmental Management Plan have not yet been discharged (they have been submitted but changes to the documents are required following review by the Council’s Highway Officer). The list of actions included in the letter includes some substantial works which appear to be more than site preparation, such as road formation and retaining wall formation (and possibly other items on the list also). I have, today, asked the consultant dealing with the condition discharge applications to clarify why this letter has been sent, given that pre-commencement conditions remain outstanding. I have advised that no development pursuant to the implementation of the permission be commenced until the conditions are discharged. I have also asked whether any works have commenced, as today was the date that the letter states works will start.
If it is identified that there is a breach of planning control, then the planning department can consider how to progress in terms of planning enforcement.”
Archaeology
On a separate matter, we are aware that some items of archaeological interest have been found during the preliminary dig on the LESSA site and that the findings have been sent to Bellway. Our Chairman, John Elvidge, is pursuing this matter.
Meadowview Road - Complaint to LBM
LATEST NEWS ABOUT MEADOWVIEW ROAD (22/P2351) - RPWBRA'S COMPLAINT TO MERTON
Members and visitors to this website are probably aware that the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was considering whether to refer the planning application submitted by Bellway, to build 107 homes on the "LESSA" sports field, to the Planning Inspectorate. This application (22/P2351) was approved by the Merton Planning Committee in September 2022.
We regret to report that the Secretary of State has declined to refer the application to the Planning Inspectorate and, consequently, last year's approval by Merton's Planning Committee now stands.
The RPWBRA had previously indicated that it wished to complain to Merton about the process leading up to Merton's decision. However, Merton wished to defer reviewing our association's complaint until after the Secretary of State's decision. As that time has now come, the RPWBRA has now submitted the complaint, which may be read here.
