500 more homes approved in huge Wimbledon estate regeneration

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

An extra 500 homes were approved as part of the next stages of a huge estate regeneration in South Wimbledon which will see more than 2,000 homes built in all.

The next four phases of the High Path Estate project were discussed by Merton council last week.

It is one of three in the borough being knocked down and rebuilt by Clarion Housing Group, which runs the authority’s social housing.

Phase one of the redevelopment has been built, with residents moved in, and the second phase is set to start soon.

Merton council’s planning committee heard updated plans for phases four to seven, which are expected to take place over the next 15 years.

The updated outline plans have added another 568 homes to the original proposals, bringing the overall total up to 2,272. The latest planning application was a change from the outline permission given in 2019.

As well as more homes, Clarion has plans to increase the height of buildings. The tallest would be 13 storeys.

Brian Ham, redevelopment director for the Merton regeneration, said: “Much has changed since the first masterplan, not least the Covid-19 pandemic which has altered people’s working and shopping habits.

“The highly efficient, but nevertheless gas fired, energy systems proposed in the first plan are also no longer acceptable as we face up to the need to de-carbonise.”

The outline planning permission was given permission by the committee.

Pictured top: The High Path estate regeneration will take place over the next 15 years (Picture: Clarion Housing)