®Planning appeal decision
The Trafalgar, 23 High Path, Colliers Wood, Merton, London, SW19 2JY
Planning appeal 3368173 at The Trafalgar, 23 High Path, Colliers Wood, Merton, London, SW19 2JY (London Borough of Merton) was dismissed on 18 November 2025 by Inspector Shearing C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The acceptability of the loss of the existing building, with particular regard to the use and heritage effects.
‘demolition of the existing building and erection of a new 4 storey building (including basement) to re-provide a public house (sui generis) at ground floor level and residential units (C3) at floors 1-3 including refuse storage provision, cycle parking and associated works.’
- Authority
- London Borough of Merton
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Shearing C
- Postcode
- SW19 2JY
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The acceptability of the loss of the existing building, with particular regard to the use and heritage effects
- Whether the proposal would be acceptable in terms of drainage and flood risk
- Effects on highway safety, with particular regard to on-street parking pressure
What decided it
The substantial loss of the non-designated heritage asset, which attracted significant weight and was not outweighed by the moderate benefits of housing delivery and the replacement public house.
The substantial harm to the non-designated heritage asset, given its significance and the scale of total loss, was not outweighed by the moderate benefits of six new residential units on a brownfield site with good accessibility, economic benefits from construction and occupation, and the potential for an enlarged replacement public house with increased capacity and functions.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy HC7 of the London PlanPolicy TC13.8 of the Merton Local Plan 2024Policy F15.8 of the Merton Local Plan 2024Policy F15.9 of the Merton Local Plan 2024
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 216
- Judgments
- Ashley, R (on the application of) v SSCLG & Ors [2012] EWCA Civ 559; Akhtar v SSCLG & LB Barking and Dagenham
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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More decisions in London Borough of Merton
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
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- Dismissed20 October 2025336704434-40 Morden Road, South Wimbledon, London, SW19 3BJ
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.