81-83 Wimbledon Hill Road, LONDON, SW19 7QS

the demolition of buildings and erection of a five-storey residential block plus basement comprising 17 self-contained flats (7x3-bed, 6x2-bed & 4x1-bed) plus detached dwellinghouse arranged over 2 floors (ground floor and basement). Basement to accommodate 9 car parking spaces

Authority: London Borough of Merton
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Major dwellings
Inspector: Cryan M

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether or not the development would make an appropriate provision for affordable housing
The effect of the proposed development on living conditions for the occupiers of neighbouring houses and flats in Bluegates, Harrowdene Court, and Leeward Gardens, with particular regard to (i) loss of daylight and sunlight, (ii) loss of privacy through overlooking, and (iii) whether or not it would be overbearing
Whether or not the proposed amount of on-site car parking would be appropriate
Whether or not the development makes appropriate provision to prevent an unacceptable increase in demand for on-street car parking
Whether or not the development makes appropriate provision for mitigating the effects of climate change and offsetting carbon emissions

What decided it

The significant harm to the living conditions of neighbouring residents from loss of daylight to Bluegates flats and the overbearing form of the building to Leeward Gardens residents, combined with unjustified overprovision of on-site car parking, outweighed the moderate benefits of housing delivery.

The moderate benefits of housing delivery and local economic activity were outweighed by the significant harm to neighbouring living conditions (loss of daylight and overbearing impact) and the conflict with sustainable transport policies through overprovision of on-site car parking.

Plan policies cited: Policy CS8 of the Merton Core Strategy, Policy DM H3 of the Merton Sites and Policies Plan, Policy H4 of the London Plan 2021, Policy H5 of the London Plan 2021, Policy CS14 of the Merton Core Strategy, Policy DM D2 of the Merton Sites and Policies Plan, Policy D3 of the London Plan 2021, Policy DM T1 of the Merton Sites and Policies Plan, Policy DM T3 of the Merton Sites and Policies Plan, Policy T6 of the London Plan 2021, Policy T6.1 of the London Plan 2021, Policy CS20 of the Merton Core Strategy, Policy CS15 of the Merton Core Strategy, Policy SI2 of the London Plan 2021, Policy SI4 of the London Plan 2021

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.