Merton Planning Consultant
Wimbledon, Morden and the Wandle
Merton runs from the villas and commons of Wimbledon to the town centres of Morden and Mitcham along the Wandle valley. Its Local Plan, adopted in November 2024, is one of the newest in south London, and since March 2026 every ward has been under HMO Article 4 control. Cedar Planning helps applicants work within both.
Cedar Planning is a Chartered consultancy led by Dan Malloy MRTPI. Although we are Norfolk-based, we act on projects throughout England, London among them, working with Merton's planning team and the Planning Inspectorate and visiting sites when it helps.
- RTPI Chartered
- Fixed-fee quotations
- Direct advice from a Chartered Planner
Merton's Local Plan, adopted in 2024
Since 20 November 2024, applications in Merton have been decided against the new Merton Local Plan, which runs to 2037/38. It replaced the Core Planning Strategy of 2011 and the Sites and Policies Plan and Policies Map of 2014, and plans for a minimum of 12,084 additional homes. Any application validated after that date is assessed under the new policies.
The plan uses chapter-based codes. Design policies are numbered D12.1 to D12.11, housing policies H11.1 to H11.7 and green and blue infrastructure policies O15.1 to F15.9. Neighbourhood chapters follow, from N3.1 for Colliers Wood through N5.1 for Morden to N9.1 for Wimbledon.
Alongside it, the Estates Local Plan guides the regeneration of three council estates: Eastfields in Mitcham, High Path in South Wimbledon and Ravensbury on the Mitcham and Morden border. The South London Waste Plan, shared with Croydon, Kingston and Sutton, completes the local development plan.
With a recently adopted plan, the policy position is settled, which makes pre-application work more predictable. The challenge is that some policies are more demanding than their predecessors, especially on climate, urban greening and dwelling conversions.
Growth around Wimbledon and Morden
The plan expects Wimbledon, South Wimbledon and Colliers Wood together to deliver around 5,000 homes and 6,000 jobs as an Opportunity Area, indicative to 2041. In Morden, site allocation Mo1, the Morden Regeneration Zone, is expected to provide around 2,000 new homes.
Local planning pressures in Merton
Seven eastern wards, including Colliers Wood and Pollards Hill, have required permission for small HMOs since 17 November 2022. An immediate direction added the other 13 wards on 24 March 2026.
Class MA rights are removed in Wimbledon town centre and in four business areas: Willow Lane, Garth Road, the South Wimbledon business area and Prince George's Road, and Durnsford Road and Plough Lane.
An unusual Article 4 Direction in north Wimbledon controls the temporary marquees and structures that would otherwise be put up under permitted development around the tennis fortnight.
Land along the River Wandle through Colliers Wood and Mitcham is at higher flood risk. Policies F15.7 to F15.9 require flood risk assessment and sustainable drainage from the outset.
Planning support for Merton clients
We quote a fixed fee for every instruction. These are the services Merton sites need most often.
HMO Planning Permission
With Article 4 control now borough-wide, new small HMOs need consent. We prepare applications under Policy H11.5 covering room sizes, amenity and the concentration of HMOs nearby.
View serviceHouseholder Applications
Extensions, roof alterations and basements in Wimbledon, Raynes Park and Merton Park, prepared against D12.4 on alterations and D12.11 on basements and subterranean design.
View servicePlanning Applications
Infill homes and conversions in Mitcham, Morden and Colliers Wood, using the Small Sites Toolkit SPD and Policy D12.10 on dwelling conversions to shape a policy-compliant scheme.
View serviceHeritage Statements
Assessments for conservation areas such as John Innes Merton Park and Wilton Crescent, both with Article 4 controls, and for listed buildings, prepared under Policy D12.5.
View serviceClass MA Prior Approvals
Outside the five Article 4 areas, offices and shops can still become homes through prior approval. We confirm eligibility and handle the submission.
View serviceLawful Development Certificates
Certificates for HMOs that began before 2022 or March 2026, and for older flats or outbuildings, supported by tenancy, council tax and utility evidence.
View serviceMerton policy codes, guidance and the London Plan
The design chapter is where most householder and small-scale proposals are tested: D12.2 on urban design, D12.3 on design quality, D12.4 on alterations and extensions, D12.5 on heritage assets, D12.6 on tall buildings and D12.11 on basements. Housing mix is covered by H11.3, and O15.6 protects the Wandle Valley Regional Park.
Two supplementary planning documents support the plan: the Borough Character Study and the Small Sites Toolkit, which sets out design guidance for infill and intensification. Merton has charged its own Community Infrastructure Levy since April 2014, alongside the Mayoral CIL.
From the London Plan 2021, SD1 on Opportunity Areas, D9 on tall buildings, G3 on Metropolitan Open Land, G6 on biodiversity and SI 12 on flood risk are frequently engaged, particularly near Wimbledon Common and the Wandle.
Merton policies that shape outcomes
Respecting the host building and the street, and protecting neighbours' light and privacy.
Height directed to locations the plan identifies as suitable, with townscape and views tested.
Standards and concentration tests for shared housing, now relevant in every ward.
Protection of commons, parks and Metropolitan Open Land, which covers large parts of the west of the borough.
A Consultancy That Works With You, For You
Merton's new plan and the rapid spread of HMO controls mean the rules have changed for many landlords and small developers in the last two years. Advice early on avoids a scheme designed to superseded standards.
Owners around Wimbledon also need to allow for heritage, open land and the special controls that come with the Championships, which are rarely found elsewhere.
RTPI Chartered
Led by a Chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute with more than ten years of public and private-sector planning experience.
Honest Prospects
A realistic view of the planning risks and options before you commit time or money.
Fixed, Transparent Fees
Fixed-fee quotations agreed before work starts, so you know the cost from the outset.
Direct Access
You deal with the Chartered Planner doing the work, not an account manager.
Planning Consultants Across London
We cover every council area in London. See our main London planning consultants page.
Merton Planning FAQs
Do I need planning permission for a small HMO in Wimbledon?
Yes. Wimbledon Town and Dundonald, Wimbledon Park and the other remaining wards came under an immediate Article 4 Direction on 24 March 2026, adding to the seven eastern wards covered since 2022. Read our HMO Article 4 guide for more.
Is Merton's 2024 Local Plan now the main document for decisions?
Yes. It was adopted on 20 November 2024 and applies to every application validated after that date. It sits alongside the London Plan 2021, the Estates Local Plan and the South London Waste Plan.
What is planned for Morden town centre?
The Local Plan allocates the Morden Regeneration Zone as site Mo1, with capacity for around 2,000 new homes alongside town centre improvements. Policy N5.1 sets out the wider aims for Morden. Nearby landowners should check how the allocation affects their sites.
Can I convert an office in Wimbledon town centre under Class MA?
No. Wimbledon town centre is one of the five areas where Merton has removed Class MA rights, so a full planning application is needed. The council will then weigh the loss of commercial space against the benefit of new homes.
Does Merton have a specific basement policy?
Policy D12.11 covers basements and subterranean design. It looks at structural stability, drainage, flood risk, trees and the effect of construction on neighbours, and larger schemes need supporting technical reports.
How does the Estates Local Plan affect High Path, Eastfields and Ravensbury?
It provides the specific framework for regenerating those three estates, covering layout, height, open space and the replacement of existing homes. Proposals on or next to them are assessed against it as well as the main Local Plan.
Get a Free Quote
Tell us what you are trying to achieve and where the property or site is. We will give you an initial view and a fixed-fee quote.
Or email us at info@cedarplanning.co.uk with the relevant information.
Thinking about a project in Wimbledon, Morden or Mitcham? Book a free 15-minute call, or see our HMO planning and householder application services.