Project Overview
Bell Cornwell has secured planning permission for the redevelopment of 64 London Road in Morden southwest London.
The site is located directly by Morden Underground Station and the proposals will see the redevelopment of an end of terrace commercial property into a flatted development. The planning strategy sought to make use of permitted development rights to convert offices to residential at first floor level to provide two apartments. Following this, we secured planning permission for an upward extension of the property to provide an additional five apartments.
The major hurdle with this development related to the London Borough of Merton believing that the proposals could harm their ambitions to deliver housing in Morden Town Centre. The Mayor of London has designated the town centre as a Housing Zone and the Council were concerned the development would not be comprehensive enough.
The area had been allocated in the Local Plan since 2013. Yet, no development partner had been allocated to deliver the regeneration project and the site was not under any scheduled acquisition from the Local Authority. Whilst we successfully argued at the planning appeal that an aspirational position should not hinder the pro-active delivery of homes in a sustainable town centre location, the appeal was dismissed on design grounds.
Following pro-active discussions with the London Borough of Merton and work with Rohacs Architects, we agreed on a scheme that is in keeping with the original building and will deliver high quality homes in the heart of Morden. Planning permission has been secured subject to a legal agreement.
