A South London neighbourhood’s biggest department store will permanently close to make way for a housing development, it has been announced. Morleys Tooting announced it will shut in the coming months to allow the plans to go ahead, with the exact closing date to be confirmed in due course.
The popular shop on Mitcham Road, which first opened in the early 20th century, said on Instagram it will run a sale starting on January 9 and continuing over the months leading up to its closure. It will be shut on January 7 and 8 to prepare for the closing down sale.
It comes after a developer bought the shop, which was put up for sale in October. The move is set to unlock plans from Morleys Stores Limited to build homes on the site, which were approved by Wandsworth Council in 2022.
Visualisation of the planned development to replace Morleys Tooting on Mitcham Road
(Image: Morleys Stores Limited/CJ Architect Ltd)
The scheme will see the six terraced homes making up Morleys Tooting demolished for 24 new flats and shops below. The new blocks will reach up to four storeys tall. There are no affordable homes included in the plans.
Application documents said the scheme will involve the ‘redevelopment of a brownfield site which is underutilised’. The site is a five-minute walk from Tooting Broadway Underground station.
Ian, from Morleys in Tooting, said in the Instagram video: “We have some important news to share. Morleys of Tooting shall be closing its doors permanently. Whilst this wasn’t an easy decision, we felt it was important to let you, our loyal customers, know first.”
Sandra, also of Morleys Tooting, said of the closing down sale: “It’s your chance to shop with us and find some incredible deals before we say goodbye.”
Morleys Stores Group is a chain of independently-owned department stores, with seven other stores. These are Morleys Brixton, Morleys Bexleyheath, Elys Wimbledon, Camp Hopson, Pearsons Enfield, Roomes Fashion & Home and James Selbys. More details on the redevelopment of Morleys Tooting will be revealed in due course.
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