Category Archives: Cricket Green Conservation Area

Brook House conversion saga continues

The redevelopment of Brook House for flats is proving to be a serious concern for all those who love Mitcham Cricket Green Conservation Area.

When finished there will be nearly 50 new flats and they are already being marketed as far away as Hong Kong.

The principle of converting the building from offices to flats isn’t something Merton Council or we can do anything about. The Government has introduced new freedoms which allow this to happen without needing a planning application. But there is a great deal that can be done to reduce its impact.

In the work done so far the developer has shown little respect for either the local community or the prominent location at the heart of Mitcham Cricket Green Conservation Area and fronting the oldest cricket ground in the world.

A large substation has been erected without consent in the most prominent and unacceptable location, the historic Cold Blows footpath has been damaged, trees have been threatened, not least through the digging of destructive trenches that have been lined with metal, and the sensitive roots of mature trees being left exposed to frost. Spoil has been left and a floodlight erected.

Much of this unauthorised activity has taken place on public land as well as that within the site curtilage.

Now we are faced with an application for claimed “minor works” such as a substation, bin store, access gate, railing and external lighting.

Each of these is anything but minor given the location and has the potential to have a significant and negative impact on the Conservation Area where new development must by law “preserve or enhance” its character.

Yet the information provided with the application provides next to no information on any of the different “minor works” cited.

The application also fails to include details of the tree works that have been undertaken, without authorisation, on the site.

A further omission is the intrusive white street cabinet erected on green space in front of Brook House. This has been erected as a result of the residential demand which will result from Brook House’s conversion. We are unaware of any prior notification for this cabinet or that permission has been given. It should be relocated to the rear of the building and more appropriately coloured – this is within Merton Council’s power under the prior notification procedures.

We believe the information provided with this application falls well below the standard required, especially in a Conservation Area, and we believe the application is not fit to be determined.

As a result the application should be refused unless further information is provided and the application is re-advertised.

Looking ahead, we acknowledge that this development will be proceeding and ask that it:

Respects the key frontage to Cricket Green
Relocates the substation erected without permission in the most intrusive location facing Cricket Green to the rear of the site
Relocates the street cabinet to the rear of the site
Avoids anything but muted external lighting
Provides boundary treatments that respect the open character of the existing frontage to Cricket Green
Retains existing trees and ensure there is no further damage to them during construction and into the future
Presents a clear planting plan, specifying the species and location of plants and hedges and how they will be maintained in perpetuity.

Find out more about this development here and read our response brook-house-nov-16

Call for Lower Green war memorial to be nationally listed

We have today – Remembrance Sunday – asked Historic England to list the war memorial on Lower Green West. It has served Mitcham for nearly 100 years and is worthy of this national recognition.

The story of the war memorial is an interesting one. It began with the Mitcham War Memorial Committee formed in February 1919. This chose a site in the churchyard of the parish church. A memorial was erected in 1919 but was not popular. For Peace Day, the 19th July 1919, a temporary memorial was put on the Lower Green, near to the Vestry Hall which was then Mitcham’s Town Hall.

The War Memorial Committee then announced that a permanent memorial, on the site of the temporary one, would be erected. A form was sent out to all residents asking for details of the fallen, and 522 names were received. Another appeal was made for more names. The memorial was unveiled on 21 November 1920, by Lieutenant General Sir Herbert Edward Watts KCB, KCMG at a ceremony attended by 5,000 people. It was announced that iron railings would later be erected around the memorial, with a gate so that members of the public could add wreaths as and when they chose.

There are 588 names inscribed on the four panels. Known details and short biographies of many of those commemorated can be viewed on the ‘Roll of Honour’ website.

The memorial also commemorates but does not name those fallen in the Second World War and “those killed in other conflicts”.

The war memorial is of Portland stone and comprises an octagonal plinth of five steps, on which is mounted a rectangular block, on top of which is a Latin cross. It is estimated at 19 feet high. The names of the fallen during World War 1 are inscribed on four stone panels, on each side of the rectangular block. The vertical edges of this block are chamfered, each of which have a bronze sword mounted. The swords are unusual and each sword, made of bronze, points downwards, and has a pommel of a St Edward’s Crown. The hilt has six studs.

Photos after World War 2 show a wooden fence instead of iron railings so it is assumed that the original railings had been removed for the war effort. The current iron railings were possibly erected around 1950. The memorial was refurbished in 1962.

The war memorial is described as the “main focus” of Lower Green West in the Mitcham Cricket Green Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan.

We welcome Merton Council’s support for this application and thanks are due to local volunteer Wade Brice for much of the research which has been undertaken to support the application. Our application also supports the war memorials programme promoted by Civic Voice.

Burn Bullock – public consultation on initial development plans this Sunday

We have received the following notification about a public exhibition of proposed development of the Burn Bullock site.

You are warmly invite to attend a public exhibition and consultation looking at concept designs for the proposed development of the Burn Bullock site on:

Sunday 13 November
2016 from 12 noon to 2 pm
at
Tooting and Mitcham Community Sports Club
KNK Stadium, Imperial Fields, Bishopsford Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 6BF.

[After the consultation, at 2.15pm the architects will be pleased to show interested parties around the site. Please note that the site is not fully accessible. Those attending should wear stout shoes and trousers. Some parking will be available on site.]

These plans are up for public consultation in advance of any planning application being submitted.

39 Mitcham Park – why we want enforcement action

The latest proposals involving 39 Mitcham Park provide the clearest example of why it is important for Merton Council to resource and prioritise enforcement action.

The former ballet school is one of a number of fine houses in this important part of the Conservation Area.

Without any permission the owners have clear trees from the garden, built an incongruous two storey extension, paved over the front, installed wholly inappropriate windows and kitted out the house to be used for flats.

Planning permission was refused back in May for converting it to flats and now we have a new application seeking to get permission for the extension over a year after it was built.

Enough is enough.

We are asking Merton Council to give the latest application short shrift and to take urgent enforcement action that requires the owners to demolish the extension, restore the house and replant the trees.

Our comments mitcham-park-39-october-2016

Proposed flats at 22 Commonside West – our comments

We have objected to the demolition of 22 Commonside West for a three storey block of flats.

This is a prominent site overlooking Three Kings Piece and the existing five bedroom house is officially recognised as making a “positive contribution” to the Conservation Area.

This means there is a presumption that it should be retained unless a new development is of outstanding quality.

Regrettably the replacement flats are poorly designed, too large and derivative. Instead of adding to the area they simply ape the contemporary design of the new housing at 18 Commonside West.

It would set a dangerous precedent to allow this development as more and more proposals to demolish Mitcham homes for flats would follow.

Our comments – Commonside West 22 – demolition for flats – Sep 16.

If you share our concerns then let Merton Council know by writing to and quoting application number 16/P2966. You can get more information on the development by putting this application number into Merton Council’s Planning Explorer.

Local List – our proposed additions

Merton Council maintains a “local list” of buildings and structures which are of historic interest and add character to the area. We have been pleased to help ensure a clear process for making additions based on input from the local community. This year we are proposing five additions to the local list for Mitcham Cricket Green:

Bramcote Court and Parade – a distinctive 1930s residential development in the “moderne” style
The Canons walls and well – these impressive structures include examples from both the 18th and 19th century and have been identified as being highly significant in recent investigations of The Canons as part of the ongoing Lottery bid
Mitcham running track – the remnants of the cinder track on the former news of the World Sports Ground are the last vestige of a sporting heritage which included the training of Olympic athletes
The Canons Lodge lamp stands – these are a distinctive addition to the Lodge which is already locally listed
Gas lamp post – this elegant cast iron structure stands opposite The White Hart as a reminder of the days before electric street lamps and dates to the 1850s.

See the full Local List at Merton Council’s web site