Impending approval of 600 flats on site of Mitcham gasworks horrifying prospect for opponents

By Harrison Galliven, Local Democracy Reporter

Mitcham residents have expressed shock that Merton council plans to approve plans for the old Mitcham Gasworks site, despite ongoing concerns around safety.

This comes following a claim by the Met that it needs an additional £120,000 from developers as “impacts of the development are such that they cannot be met without additional staff”.

Merton council revealed this week that it intends to approve plans to build 579 new flats in blocks of up to nine storeys on the site of the old Mitcham Gasworks.

This comes despite years of residents objecting to the plans on the grounds of safety, design and environmental damage.

This approval, due to take place at a planning and development meeting next week, will be subject to the developer St William fulfilling statutory obligations to contribute to affordable housing, health, transport, roads, environmental impacts and telecommunications mast works.

The requirement also includes a £120,525.62 contribution to be paid to the local Met.

The Mitcham Cricket Green Community and Heritage Group (MCGCH), who have been leading the opposition to the plans since they were introduced in 2022, believes the imposition of nearly 600 flats on an area that already has an above-average crime rate will further stretch policing and threaten safety.

MCGCH chairman Tony Burton said: “The developers have kicked many of the most important issues into the long grass. The site’s contaminated land hasn’t been sorted, London Fire Brigade’s objections put to one side and the Met’s evidence of the significant impact bought off with a £120,000 fee.

“Necessary primary policing infrastructure needs to be considered in the viability of the development alongside, for example, schools and medical facilities.”

Last month, London Fire Brigade (LFB) expressed doubts over the safety of the five-hectare site. In an official objection made to Merton council’s planning department, LFB outlined a list of concerns regarding St William’s (the applicant) current fire strategy.

The strategy, designed to keep potential residents safe from fire risk, was criticised due to the inadequacy of the building’s escape routes. For this reason, Merton is requesting a reassessment of the fire strategy.

Another bone of contention is the fencing surrounding the site, which would separate it from the former gasworks. According to Mr Burton, the lack of commitment to remove the fence would limit residents’ access to green space.

The gasworks site in Western Road closed in 1960 after 93 years of operation and was demolished at the end of 2021. St William, along with architect Rolfe Judd, took over the brownfield site in 2022.

Accompanying the planned 579 flats will be 2,000 square metres of play space for children as well as new public green spaces. St William has also committed to improving biodiversity levels on the site.

The plans include ground floor shop space fronting Western Road, 158 parking spaces are also detailed in the plans, this is up from 135 promised previously.

A spokesman from Merton council said: “The planning application will be considered on July 11, by an independent committee made up of councillors from all parties, who will make their decision after carefully considering the planning officer’s report.”

St William said it cannot comment on live applications.

Pictured top: CGI of the proposed flats (Picture: St William)