New planing freedoms are encouraging property owners to add extra storeys to their buildings. We have seen a number of proposals along London Road, including Deseret House next to Glebe Court, and the latest is for Drive House.

The plan is to add two storeys to the existing three storey building that runs from Pawelek to Justin Plaza. It includes an important local shopping parade and two storeys of flats.

Where well designed and located we are supportive of efforts to make more effective use of brownfield sites and existing buildings to provide homes.

Our representations on Merton’s new Local Plan supported the allocation of 11 sites for the development of hundreds of new homes. Unfortunately the Drive House plans are for poor quality accommodation in a poorly designed vertical extension.

Drive House is designed as a three storey building and it sits well in London Road. With all the new build going on around it, including on the former KwikFit site and soon to be on the car wash site, it is important to retain existing building heights that protect the character of the townscape and avoid a canyon of new building along London Road.

The detailed design of the proposed vertical extension is also harmful to the external appearance of Drive House. It lacks appropriate architectural detailing and relates uneasily to the existing building which was not designed to be of this scale.

We also question whether Drive House qualifies for the fast track planning freedoms under which the application has been made. These exclude proposals within 3km of an aerodrome. The helipad at St George’s Hospital falls within this definition and it is just under 3km away.

Whatever happens to the plans it is important that the owners maintain the building better. It has been allowed to develop a serious maintenance backlog and action is needed to address the decaying awning which has lost render, causes leaks in the shops below and is now surmounted by numerous buddleia plants. Merton Council has powers to require this to be remedied without giving permission for new development.

You can read our full response here.