‘Highly imposing’ new flats in Wimbledon to be built on radioactive contamination site

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

Nearly 100 “highly imposing” new flats will be built in Wimbledon Park, but the cost to remove radioactive contamination from the site next to a park means just eight per cent of them will be affordable.

Buildings on the Rufus Business Centre industrial estate will be demolished to make way for the 96 flats.

It is the third time plans for the development have come before Merton council’s planning committee, after it was deferred twice earlier this year.

This was for clarification on the cost of removing contamination from the land.

The plans, submitted by Wandle Way Ltd, are for 96 flats across four blocks of between three and eight storeys tall – it also includes an office space on the ground floor.

The development was given the green light by the committee on June 16.

More than 350 signed a petition and neighbour of the development, Chris Beech, was concerned that those in affordable homes would be in a separate block.

He said: “The social costs will be huge, it will promote division in the community and risks stigmatising those living in the affordable block. This is social segregation it is unacceptable.”

Mr Beech said the height and size of the development isn’t in keeping with the surrounding area and would overpower the Durnsford Recreation Ground.

Barry Newman, project manager for the development, defended the scheme and explained that contamination of the site has impacted how many afforable homes can be provided on the site.

He said this radioactive contamination is from previous manufacture on the site.

Pictured: Rufus Business Centre (Picture: Google Street View)