Category Archives: Cricket Green Conservation Area

Cricketers Pub plans rejected by council

The latest controversial plan to redevelop the Cricketers for flats was unanimously rejected once again by Merton Council’s Planning Applications Committee on 23rd May.  The councillors should take a bow.  Once again they have stood up for high design standards and rejected their own officers advice to grant permission.

The Cricketers site has seen at least six different developments in the last six years – the latest plans are at the bottom right at the bottom of the screen.

This is a unique island site in the heart of Mitcham Cricket Green Conservation Area opposite the oldest cricket ground in the world and alongside the wonderful Vestry Hall.  It demands the highest quality of development and this was not achieved by the latest proposals.

Merton Council’s Design Review Panel reviewed the plans and could not be clearer.  It gave them a Red rating – exactly the same as it had given earlier proposals. Among many criticisms the Panel identifies that the proposals do “not bear any relationship to the form of Vestry Hall” and concluded that there is “a considerable amount of further work needed to make the building of the quality it should be in this prominent location.”

The plans were not of the outstanding quality required to meet the legal need to “preserve or enhance” the Conservation Area  – the revised design was lazy, derivative and lacks any distinction. The decision by councillors has wider implications for other parts of Merton faced by insensitive development applications.  Merton councillors have shown their mettle and demanded better.

We wait to see if the developers go to appeal.

Cricketers proposals Mar 2016

Former Bull public house new front wall – our comments

The redevelopment of the former Bull public house has been taking some time.

We’ve been pleased with some of the work and welcomed the inclusive approach of the owner who has involved us in discussions.

The loss of the distinctive yellow tiles at the front has been a disappointment, and the latest twist is a plan for a wall and railings on the Church Road pavement.

We think this will upset sight lines along Church Road and obscure the historic frontage and have objected.

Read our comment Bull front wall – May 16.

 

Grade I listed Eagle House threatened by new development

Merton has only three Grade I listed structures and two of them are in Mitcham – Eagle House and its associated gates, railings and wall.

Their setting is now at risk thanks to new development plans for the neighbouring former Holborn Workhouse site.

The new plans for 36 flats in a new building and through conversion of the locally listed former school house are much improved on an earlier scheme which would have razed the site.

Nevertheless we think Eagle House deserves more than being next to the refuse collection and bike racks for the new flats and the design could be made more sympathetic.

This area of Mitcham town centre has suffered terribly from shoddy development and with a bit more effort this could be a scheme to be proud of.

Read our submitted comment 226 London Road redevelopment – May 16

See the full planning application at Merton Council’s web site here

Find out how to make your own comments here

Build-first-ask-later planning application for 39 Mitcham Park – our objection

The latest example of build-first ask-later development is coming to a decision soon at 39 Mitcham Park.

The former ballet school has been gutted, it’s trees and hedges removed, its garden paved, its wooden sash windows stripped out and poor quality bed sits installed – all without planning permission.

We alerted Merton Council’s enforcement team along with appalled local residents and a retrospective planning application has been submitted.

The development deserves rapid refusal and immediate enforcement action.

Read our comments: Mitcham Park #39 – May 2016

All the details relating to this planning application can be found at Merton Council’s web site here and information on how to make your own comments is here.

Annual Review 2015 published

We published our Annual Review for 2015 at our AGM on 26th April.

This captures the breadth and scope of our work throughout the year, and it is packed with information.

Highlights of 2015 include :

  • Our Highly Commended award at the first Civic Voice Design Awards
  • The first ever Mitcham Heritage Day
  • Continued work on The Canons Lottery bid
  • Contributing to the development of Merton Council’s Heritage Strategy
  • A strong watching brief on planning and tree related matters with much action taken on both areas
  • Supporting Merton in Bloom
  • Continued production and distribution of our bulletin to more than 3000 local residents three times a year

And much, much more.

Read our Annual review 2015

AGM 2016

Our Community Planning and Design Brief for the Wilson Local Care Centre

Merton’s Clinical Commissioning Group has chosen the Wilson Hospital as the location for a new Local Care Centre serving this part of the Borough.

This will mean a major redevelopment of the historic site, first bequeathed to Mitcham by Sir Isaac Wilson in the 1920s. The architects were also responsible for the Vestry Hall and former fire station. The current hospital is a much loved local landmark and locally listed as well as being in the Cricket Green Conservation Area.

We welcome the decision on the Local Care Centre and want to see a redevelopment of the highest quality. This would respect the legacy of Sir Isaac Wilson, the sensitive location and the existing historic buildings.

To help guide the redevelopment we have produced a Community Planning & Design Brief for the Wilson Hospital site. This follows a thorough survey of the grounds and discussion at our Open Meetings.

We have identified some important features of the site which need to be retained. These include the classical frontage, open space, important trees, boundary features and historic and vernacular details.

The site is hampered by poor quality outbuildings, large areas of tarmac, poorly located parking, intrusive lighting, poorly used open space and a lack of any link to Cranmer School.

The Community Planning & Design Brief establishes 15 principles to guide the redevelopment.

These range from retaining the locally listed building to providing an off-road drop off for Cranmer School. We believe there should be no increase in the area of buildings on the site and no loss of green space overall. We are also asking that the grounds be better used for informal recreation to promote public health and that some simple interpretation is provided. We want the open aspect to Caesar’s Walk retained and are wary of early plans to develop new housing on this part of the site.

Read our Community Planning & Design Brief.

Watch out for the development plans later this year. We are promised community consultation.