Housing estate with no affordable homes approved

"St William said the promised 35% affordable housing was no longer deliverable as it had been unable to secure the necessary grant funding. Tony Burton, secretary of the local civic society Mitcham Cricket Green Community and Heritage, said: "It is unconscionable that the largest new housing development in Mitcham for a generation should provide no affordable homes." It was the third time the plans were submitted with changes made."

"Mr Lewis told the development and planning committee on 27 November that their original plans had fallen through due to viability concerns, after it became impossible to secure the necessary funding. He said this was because "some of the homes would have fallen outside the timescales for which the grant was available". The developer also said the complexities of the former gasworks site, which was demolished in 2021, and rising construction costs had created additional difficulties."

"St William said they were in discussions with Merton Council and the Greater London Authority (GLA) to secure grant funding for at least 146 homes at social rent. This will not be confirmed until at least April 2026, when the next round of GLA funding becomes available. "We understand no one wants to see a scheme of this size with no affordable housing. We believe the best way to avoid this is to secure the necessary grant," Mr Lewis said."

Mitcham Gasworks redevelopment in south-west London received planning approval for 626 homes despite delivering no immediate affordable housing. Councillors described the decision as regrettable given the need for affordable housing in the east of the borough. The approved scheme reduced building heights on Hay Drive and Portland Road and increased total homes from 579 to 626, with a higher share of smaller private units. The developer attributed the loss of the promised 35% affordable housing to inability to secure grant funding, site complexities from the former gasworks demolished in 2021, and rising construction costs. St William is pursuing GLA and council grant discussions to obtain funding for at least 146 social-rent homes, with confirmation not expected until April 2026.

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