2024 was a year in which Merton grabbed headlines. From the Lib Dems’ historic taking of the Wimbledon seat in the May elections to the fire at the Burn Bullock and the ongoing All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) expansion saga, the South London borough has attracted attention near and far.
The borough’s affordable house-building targets and ambitious housing estate redevelopment plans will continue to roll on, with residents expecting to see progress in construction in 2025. With so many plans on the horizon, we have compiled a list of the big things to look out for in Merton over the next year.
The fire raging at the Burn Bullock on April 19
(Image: User submission)
Burn Bullock pub
Mitcham’s famous Burn Bullock pub faced a devastating chapter of its history after a fire ravaged the premises in April. Since then there have been calls for Merton Council to purchase the building to save it from further decline or damage.
Legal responsibility for making the building, parts of which were built in the 16th century, safe rests with its owners, but Merton Council has since stepped in to do this. The future of the Grade II listed pub now lies with the council, who many locals hope will make a compulsory purchase of the pub so it can be protected for public benefit. The Burn Bullock is named after the famous cricketer associated with the nearby Mitcham Cricket Club (MCC).
Wimbledon tennis courts expansion
It is unusual for the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) to make headlines outside of championship season in July. However, their controversial plans to extend their reach into the grounds of the neighbouring Wimbledon golf club have kept the tennis body in the public eye throughout the year.
The plans, which would see 38 new courts and a large show court built on Wimbledon Park, were given the green light by the Deputy Mayor of London back in September. This controversial decision, covered extensively by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), was just the latest in a protracted planning battle which saw Merton Council support the plans while Wandsworth chose to reject them. Despite the Deputy Mayor’s approval, the plans still face legal challenge.
Earlier this month, AELTC announced it would take its controversial plans to the High Court, seeking legal approval for the development. The club said it was seeking to resolve ongoing concerns about the legality of its expansion plans — concerns that opponents had hoped would provide a way to block the controversial project.
This legal challenge will likely take place in the coming year. It will also be accompanied by the promised legal challenges from the Save Wimbledon Park Campaign, who have been fighting the plans at every step.
A CGI of what the new tennis stadium in Wimbledon would look like
Morden Town Centre
Recent research found that Wimbledon town centre made a ‘remarkable recovery’ after the pandemic, outpacing many other high streets across the UK. While many in the borough still see the town as a desirable place to spend time and money, fewer see nearby Morden in the same light.
Many who have spoken to the LDRS say Morden is mainly used because of its excellent transport links and not as a shopping or socialising destination. Earlier this year, Merton Council Leader Ross Garrod said that Morden’s long-awaited town centre redevelopment was a ‘slow-burner’, with no start date for construction in sight.
While the council has made a number of aesthetic improvements to the area, especially on Abbotsbury Road, the large changes will have to wait. The council has hired a Town Centre Manager to spearhead any improvements.
However, without a key financial and development partner, it is unclear whether we will see any notable progress on the redevelopment in 2025.
Borough of Sport
2025 will see Merton develop its status as a Borough of Sport. The project, which aims to improve access to sports for young children and the elderly, has already seen the council make swimming free for under 16s and over 65s at its own leisure centres.
While some of its moves, like the decision to reform the tennis coaching system, have attracted controversy, the council says ‘it’s only just beginning’ its transformation of sport in the borough. Merton Council also aims to have 300 new dedicated e-bike parking bays in the borough from spring 2025.
Merton Council has confirmed that 300 extra e-bike bays could soon come to the borough to deal with inappropriate parking
(Image: LDRS)
Major developments
Clarion estate regeneration
Merton Council has partnered with Clarion to deliver a £1.8bn overhaul of its Eastfields, Ravensbury and High Path estates, with major milestones expected in 2025. The largest estate regeneration project in the borough’s history took its first step forward earlier this year after work began on the Eastfields estate in Mitcham.
Next year, 32 homes in Phase 1A of the Eastfields regeneration and 54 homes in Phase 2 of Ravensbury will be completed. Meanwhile, work continues on the other High Path estate regeneration phases.
When fully realised, the Merton redevelopment will deliver more than 3,200 ‘high-quality’ homes, replacing 1,000 existing properties and creating over 2,200 brand new ones.
Mitcham Gasworks
In July, Merton Council granted permission for plans to build 579 new flats on the site of the former Mitcham Gasworks. The decision came after years of objections from residents who raised concerns over safety, design, and environmental impact.
While the gasworks has not being in operation since 1960, residents still object as they feel the nine-storey height of some of the towers would negatively impact neighbours. Despite this, developers St William are expected to start work on the site in 2025.
579 flats will be built across blocks between five and nine storeys tall at the gasworks site
(Image: St William)
New social housing
Work on some of the council’s first new social housing ‘in a generation’ began earlier this year. The new development on Merton’s Station Road will bring 98 ‘high-quality, energy-efficient’ homes to the borough.
The 10 to 12-storey buildings will be placed near the River Wandle and will help address the borough’s shortage of social housing. While the Clarion-led project is set for completion in 2026, most of the work will take place next year. Affordable housing has been a priority in Merton, and by 2025, we could see even more projects dedicated to addressing the housing crisis.
Majestic Way
Another ambitious Clarion housing project set to see work begin in 2025 is Mitcham’s Majestic Way project. Earlier this year, Merton Council sold the large but unused car park on Majestic Way to Clarion in a bid to build up the town centre.
Clarion has now earmarked the area for new social housing and retail units. The existing car park would now need to be demolished before construction starts; no exact date has yet been set.
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