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Wandle is proud to be developing new homes in Merton. We are committed to tackling the shortage of good quality affordable housing R E G E N E R AT I O N A N D G R O W T H I N T H E L O N D O N B O R O U G H O F M E RT O N
R E G E N E R AT I O N A N D G R O W T H I N T H E L O N D O N B O R O U G H O F M E RT O N
With a New Homes Strategy to deliver over 1,000 homes over the next five years we require: Sites 15 – 50 units Sites with or without planning New s106 partners Joint venture partners (60 units +)
SPACE SHUTTLE
Multi-modal connectivity
HOMES BASE
Building up the borough
Peter Beggan – Land Manager (New Business) 020 8682 7301 / 07908 375 756 merton-land@wandle.com
AU T U M N 20 1 6
Please get in touch to find out more...
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LAUNCH PAD
A spirit of enterprise
Come home to Cedar Place today A private enclave of six elegant four bedroom townhouses, complemented by an exclusive residents’ gym, private cinema room, dedicated concierge service and 19 acres of protected parkland in one of London’s most desirable suburbs.
Townhouse prices from £2,899,950 and apartment prices from £1,150,000 For more information call 020 3504 7679 or visit www.wimbledonhillpark.co.uk Sales & Marketing Suite open daily – Copse Hill, Wimbledon, London SW20 0NE
Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies
Computer generated image is indicative only and subject to planning. Amenities may not be available from first occupation. Prices correct at time of print.
CONTENTS
Siobhán Crozier Maria Shahid, James Wood REPORTER Marco Cillario DESIGN Kate Harkus PRODUCTION MANAGER Christopher Hazeldine EDITORIAL DIRECTOR EDITORS
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
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P R OJ EC T S Tracking the progress of regeneration schemes across Merton.
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C O L L I E R S WO O D Perceptions of this neighbourhood are changing fast.
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MORDEN Funding and support are creating homes in the area.
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N E WS All the latest on regeneration and development in Merton.
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N OW A N D T H E N Fast forward to 2026, Future Merton finds a borough transformed.
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A R T S A N D C U LT U R E Wimbledon College of Arts is one of the capital’s most sought-after.
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CONNECTIVITY Trams, trains and tubes – transport options are numerous.
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P R OJ EC T S M A P Where are the key development sites located?
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MARKETS Facts and figures – what makes this London borough tick?
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ENTERPRISE Wimbletech gives vital support to growing SMEs.
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S I T E M ATC H Morden town centre is one of Merton Council’s strategic projects.
Paul Gussar BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Harry Seal PROJECT MANAGER Sue Mapara SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Simon Maxwell MANAGING DIRECTOR Toby Fox Sara Williams & Paul McGarry, Merton Council’s futureMerton team
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Y:Cube at YMCA Mitcham IMAGES Christopher Hazeldine, Merton Council, Premier Inn, AELTC / Grimshaw Architects, Baharash Architecture, Hunters, Studio building at Wimbledon College of Arts, designed by Penoyre & Prasad / photographed by © Tim Crocker, AFC Wimbledon/Galliard Homes, Berkeley Homes, YMCA Mitcham, Circle Housing, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris / Workspace, Shutterstock / Pressmaster, Wimbletech, Bombshell Consultancy PRINTED BY Park Communications PUBLISHED BY 3Fox International, Sunley House, Bedford Park, Croydon CR0 2AP T 020 7978 6840 W 3foxinternational. com SUBSCRIPTIONS + FEEDBACK futuremerton.co.uk COVER IMAGE
© 2016 3Fox International Limited. All material is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of 3Fox International Ltd is strictly forbidden. The greatest care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine at time of going to press, but we accept no responsibility for omissions or errors. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of 3Fox International Ltd.
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MORDEN TO WITNESS THE FITNESS A leisure centre is to be built in Morden Park. Merton Council’s planning committee granted approval for the scheme in June 2016. It will include a 25m, six-lane main pool and a 15m x 13m pool with a movable floor. The latter will be used for swimming lessons, water-based exercise and diving. The leisure centre will also host a 100-station fitness suite, a community room and a cafe. Construction was due to start as Future Merton went to press and is to complete in early 2018. When the new centre opens, the 1960s Mor-
01 Morden Park’s new leisure centre is due for completion by 2018.
den Park Pool will be demolished and the site returned to open green space. The council said the new centre would have lower maintenance costs than the older structure, which requires continuous repairs. Councillor Stephen Alambritis, leader of the council, said the leisure centre would be “fit for the 21st century� and praised the council’s “good financial planning�. “Even in these challenging times, we can still deliver new facilities for people living and working in Merton,� he added.
G R E E N F L A G S FO R M E RTO N ’ S P A R KS Five parks in Merton have been awarded the national standard for quality green spaces. Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Playing Fields, Colliers Wood Recreation Ground, South Park Gardens, John Innes Park and Dundonald Recreation Ground have all been awarded the Green Flag by UK-wide charity Keep Britain Tidy. 5IF (SFFO 'MBH XJMM nZ BCPWF UIF FOUSBODFT PG UIF mWF QBSLT Merton Council’s cabinet member for community and culture, Councillor Nick Draper, said: “Congratulations must go to our professional
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parks teams who work so hard to keep these parks looking great, and to the devotion of the friends’ groups who work so conscientiously beside them.� He mentioned the outdoor green gyms and play areas and the solar powered smart bins that signal when they need emptying among the reasons for the parks’ popularity and success. There are more than 60 public parks in Merton, and Draper added that the council would continue to work towards Green Flag standards for the borough’s other green areas.
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G O A LS F O R N E W S TA D I U M TO BE REALISED Plans for AFC Wimbledon’s new football stadium, which could eventually hold up to 20,000 people, were approved by the government, as it decided not to call in the application. Sajid Javid MP, secretary of state for communities and local government, announced on 27 September that he had rejected a request by Wandsworth Council to review the project. Javid’s announcement is a major boost for the plans, which were approved by Merton Council in December 2015 and also include 600 homes, commercial space and a squash club.
AT LO N G L A ST , W E C A N STA RT P L A N NI N G W I T H CO N F ID E N C E TO G I V E A FC W I M BL E D O N A S EC UR E F U T UR E Erik Samuelson, AFC Wimbledon CE
WO R K T O S T A R T O N W I M B L E D O N H OT E L S A 140-bed hotel is to be built in Wimbledon town centre. Merton Council’s planning committee granted planning permission in July to an application submitted by Hermes Investment Management UP SFQMBDF UIF 4MVH BOE -FUUVDF CBS PO )BSUmFME 3PBE The two-storey building will be replaced with a seven-storey construction containing the IPUFM BOE B HSPVOE nPPS SFTUBVSBOU Despite its popularity with tourists, the town centre is considered to lack the required hotel capacity. This is the second hotel planned for Wimbledon. Whitbread won planning permission Hotel rooms to build an eight-storey, 176-bed Premier Inn planned hotel on The Broadway, in August 2016.
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“Now, at long last, we can start planning with confidence to give AFC Wimbledon a secure future at the heart of the community the club represents,� said the club’s chief executive Erik Samuelson. The project, for a stadium which would initially cater for 11,000 people and see the Dons relocate from their current ground in Kingston Upon Thames, was conceived by AFC Wimbledon and Galliard Homes. A planning application was lodged in November 2014 and, after a consultation process, approved the next year. But in March 2016 it was called in by the former mayor of London Boris Johnson. In July, the new mayor, Sadiq Khan, handed the decision back to Merton Council. After Javid’s decision, the plans are now subject to a section 106 agreement being reached, which is expected by December.
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T OW E R O F G L A S S A glass-clad building in Colliers Wood DPOUBJOJOH nBUT JT TDIFEVMFE GPS completion in 2017. It replaces the derelict former Brown & Root tower, voted the capital’s ugliest building in a 2006 BBC poll. Planning permission for the project was granted by Merton Council in 2011. Along with the new apartments, the regeneration of Colliers Wood Tower by developer Criterion Capital will deliver a series of shops on the HSPVOE nPPS BT XFMM BT B QVCMJD QMB[B fronting the underground station. A planning application for phase two is expected in 2017. For more information see page 27
NEW TENNIS S H OT S O F C O U R T NO.1 SERVED UP Images of the new roof for Court Number One at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon have been revealed, with the structure on track for delivery in 2019. Court Number One will be the second of the show courts to be equipped with a roof at the world-famous tennis grounds, after the installation of a similar feature for Centre Court was completed in 2009. The new retractable roof will allow for uninterrupted play irrespective of the weather, as is currently the case for Centre Court. The two roofs together will guarantee tennis for around 27,000 spectators on the two main show courts. Court Number One will also be remodeled – new wider seating is due to be installed, along with two additional tiers of around 900 seats. A two-level plaza will replace Court 19. I SS UE 1
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Galliard. The pioneers of regeneration across Central & South London – and now proud to be working in the borough of Merton.
galliard homes.com 0207 620 1500
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B A C K TO THE FUTURE Future Merton time travels to 2026, when council-led initiatives have led to dramatic changes in Merton, benefiting residents – and changing perceptions of this south-west London borough B Y K I R S T Y M A C A U L AY
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erton residents who lived in the south-west London borough a decade ago would struggle to recognise the place if they were to return there today. In 2026, it has become a case study for successful regeneration, with experts from around the world visiting to learn how to reinvigorate the suburbs. The borough still retains its most renowned landmarks, including its key town centres, historic buildings, vast green areas and 1930s suburbs, but they’re now linked by excellent transport, top class public realm and high quality architecture. The population has grown substantially. The housing zone in Morden catalysed the area’s upward trajectory.
A S M O R DEN TURNS 100 , T H E TOWN CEN TR E I S A NEAT AN D B U STL I NG PLACE WIT H A VA R IED MIX OF SHO P S A N D PEOPLE 10
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It is no exaggeration to say the 1,000 homes created in the town centre have transformed Morden into one of south London’s most sought-after and great value suburbs. The town centre is busier and more dynamic following the increase in population and the resultant growth in demand on local retailers and other amenities. It all offers plentiful business opportunities and also means existing businesses have redefined their offer to satisfy the new demographic in the area. Work to significantly enhance the underground station forecourt has reinforced the idea that Morden is a town on the up. The Charles Holden-designed terminus for the Northern line opened in 1926. In its centenary year, the station is once again the standout building in Morden, sensitively redesigned with the 1960s extension removed and replaced with new commercial and business space. As Morden turns 100, the town centre is a neat and bustling place with a rich and varied mix of shops and people.
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01 ‘Urban Forest’: one of the many concepts put forward in the Future Wimbledon ideas competition.
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The bus station, which obscured the front of the underground station, was transformed, paving the way for the new pedestrian-friendly town square and redesigned traffic system. Morden’s public realm overhaul has won many accolades and changed the face of the town centre to make it more modern, open and smarter. The benches, colourful lighting, planting and water features in the new square at the front of the station have turned it into an inviting, safe place for people to meet and hang out – particularly at the weekends when there is a farmers’ market and live music. LIFE OF LEISURE Spending leisure time in Morden is easy; the difficulty is in choosing what to do. It used to be that people who lived and worked there went elsewhere to spend their money and time. Today there is no need to leave; the mix of independent and high street retailers provide an interesting shopping experience, and an eclectic range of cafes and restaurants ensure ready access to a booming night-time economy. Morden Leisure Centre, opened in 2018, has replaced the mid-century Morden Park Pools.
S P E N DI N G LEISURE T I M E I N M ORDEN IS EASY ; T H E D I FFICULT Y IS I N C H O O SI NG WHAT TO D O This £11 million facility offers a large pool with movable floors for diving and aqua aerobics, a secondary pool, a 100-station gym, sauna and steam rooms, large sports hall with an impressive climbing wall plus two studios for classes. The cafe is situated within the fabulously cool viewing gallery – particularly entertaining when the divers or aqua aerobics lessons are on. The centre is now home to one of the country’s leading dive clubs and many of the UK’s Olympic hopefuls train here. 12
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01 Improvements to Morden’s connectivity are being used as a template for other ‘end of the tube line’ areas looking to improve their lot. Making more of Morden is now a case study for transforming other suburbs in outer London. The tramlink extension from Morden linking it to Sutton town centre and Wimbledon aided the town’s upgrade and has proved invaluable for residents and businesses. And in Wimbledon, Crossrail 2, which is scheduled for completion by 2033, will boost the town’s already impressive connectivity with the creation of a brand new regional rail station. The link (which runs to New Southgate and Tottenham Hale) will cut travel times dramatically and vastly improve transport capacity levels and access to jobs. Wimbledon’s connectivity has improved employment and retail opportunities, and its public realm has also had a facelift, following the Future Wimbledon vision for the town in 2030. The other major change in Wimbledon is the stadium on Plough Lane, which has boosted the prospects of the football team, AFC Wimbledon, and helped rejuvenate the surround-
01 The new Morden Leisure Centre features a pool with a NPWBCMF nPPS 02 The ÂŁ11 million centre replaced Morden Park Pools. 03 Planning permission for Pollards Hill was approved in September 2016.
ing neighbourhood. The 20,000-seater community stadium is exactly that – the space is regularly used by all sections of the community for a variety of events. Every seat is sold for home games and Premier League football is set to return to the area, with AFC Wimbledon looking likely to gain promotion to England’s top division. The club was formed in 2002, out of the ashes of the former top-flight Wimbledon team. During the last 20 years, it has clawed its way from non-league obscurity, and
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02 for estate renewal across the country. Although some residents were initially sceptical about the project, the scheme has quickly become a symbol of civic pride in the area and has helped turn the neighbourhood around. Local people helped with planting in the estate’s green areas, and each year hold a bulb planting day, as well as gardening days throughout the growing season, which have helped transform the area.
03 a sensible bet would predict that a Wimbledon team will soon be back in the big-time. Another Merton success story is the much-publicised award-winning housing scheme at Pollards Hill in Mitcham. This has become the must-visit destination for students of architecture. Moat Housing’s huge regeneration project completely transformed the area in 2018 with the creation of 90 homes and the refurbishment of 400 properties. It has been held up as a blueprint
OLD MEETS NEW Circle Housing’s major regeneration projects are nearing completion; Eastfields, High Path and Ravensbury housing estates have all won awards including a prestigious RIBA prize. Improved green space, a return to traditional street layouts and a contemporary take on the Victorian terrace and mansion blocks were all part of the masterplan, and have enhanced residents’ experience of living on the estates. Increased connectivity was a principle factor in the regeneration of Colliers Wood. Providing easier access to the area’s best bits increased visitor numbers to sites like Wandle Park, the Merton Priory Museum and Merton
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Abbey Mills, as well as footfall to the neighbouring retail parks. Step out of Colliers Wood tube station now and you can see the green open space of Wandle Park. Baltic Close, the pedestrianised space opposite the tube station, draws visitors down a walkway lined with plants and William Morris-inspired benches, and into the serenity of the park. There are links to the wonderful unspoilt land that is Wandle Meadow Nature Park, an oasis for dragonflies, frogs and birds, which is bordered by the Wandle Trail for those who want to continue their adventure. The £3 million changes to Colliers Wood in 2016 have been well received. Where once the town centre was dominated by a chaotic road and a derelict and brooding black concrete tower block – widely considered in the community as an eyesore – it is now overlooked by a modern glass tower surrounded by pedestrianised streets, smart public realm, improved traffic management and easy access into nearby Wandle Park. The glass tower, which dominates the skyline, is unrecognisable from the dilapidated Brown & Root Tower, which was once voted London’s ugliest building in a BBC poll. The transformation, by Criterion Capital, created more than 200 apartments for private rent with shops on the ground floor. It is located directly opposite Colliers Wood tube station and many of the apartments have views over Wandle Park and the ever-evolving London skyline beyond. Colliers Wood is a real success story. Its popularity has soared and it is easy to see why; new housing integrated with much-loved Victorian terraces and green spaces abound – the increased population and number of visitors to the area have also created a bustling town centre. The regeneration plan was to create a defined area and bring more cohesion to the borough. Merton has achieved what its local plan set out to do and triumphed. o I SS UE 1
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ARTISTS’ IMPRESSIONS Wimbledon College of Arts is providing opportunities for students to engage with professional artists, build portfolios and establish themselves on the scene B Y J A M E S WO O D
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rtists flock to London, believing it to be the best chance of improving their professional prospects. The capital is famed as a place where they find success and in which abundant galleries, creative communities and some of the world’s best educational facilities can be found. For many, these positives outweigh common problems such as earning enough to meet the high cost of living and the competitive nature of pursuing artistic careers. Obtaining a place at a top London art college can lead to success and Wimbledon, in the borough of Merton, is home to one of six constituent colleges of the University of the Arts London (UAL), the Wimbledon College of Arts. Traditionally, Central St Martin’s was seen as the place talented young people aspired to attend, but these perceptions are changing fast. Since its inception 30 years ago, UAL is now hugely sought after – not just in the UK, but globally too. For painting BA student, Amanda Roberts, this fact hit home when she was on holiday in Barbados. “I spoke to somebody there whom I had never met before with a common interest in art and they were really impressed when I told them I go to the Wimbledon College of Arts,� she says. “I think this shows how the college’s excellent reputation is widespread.�
02 01 Students CFOFmU GSPN DMPTF NFOUPSJOH BU UIF DPMMFHF 02 "SUXPSL CZ #" TUVEFOU -VDZ )BSSPX 03 5IF DPMMFHF TUVEJP JT SBUFE BREEAM APVUTUBOEJOH
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ARTISTIC LEGACY The facility became part of UAL in 2006. It was previously known as Wimbledon School of Art, which was established in 1890 and moved to its current home on the leafy Merton Hall Road in 1940. It boasts an impressive range of alumni, including Will Pearce, who graduated in 2003 and works on the stage production of The Lion King in the West End and Turner Prize winners Tony Cragg (1988), Peter Doig (1994) and current alumna Josephine Pryde, who is nominated for this year’s award, to be announced in December. With 800 students on fine art, theatre and screen courses at the college, studying at Wimbledon allows them to develop a niche, as Jayne Knowles, the associate dean of the college, I SS UE 1
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explains: “We have the benefit of being part of both a smaller and larger institution. Students learn in our workshops, studios and on-site professional theatre from expert tutors and technicians who either work in the industry or have their own practices.” For some students, this offers multiple benefits. Roberts, who is just about to enter the third year of her BA degree at the college, says: “I really like the fact that a number of tutors are practising artists. They all have experience of selling their work and putting on exhibitions, so not only do they help on a practical level – sharing incredible knowledge of art history – but they also offer advice on how we can make a living once we leave. In terms of the actual business side of things, you learn a lot of entrepreneurial skills that are useful for the future.” Close teacher-student relationships are important to college leaders, but collaboration between pupils taking different courses is also encouraged. A free-to-attend festival at the end of the year showcases a wide range of work, with students collaborating on pieces of theatre and art and exhibiting work around the facility.
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GLOBAL REACH Opportunities for extracurricular activities abroad are also on offer. The college selected and curated an exhibition in Beijing at the end of 2015, featuring European theatre and per02 formance design, after being invited to do so by the National Centre for Performing Arts in the Chinese capital. The Evolving Design for 01 The leafy environs of the arts college. Performance project featured work from alumni 02 Dress by costume in just 12 European theatre academies, including interpretation student, Wimbledon College of Arts. Elizabeth Wang. Associate dean Knowles says: “We have 03 Student Manon excellent relationships with organisations and Teychenne-Simões’ painting ‘Clara’. institutions all over the world. Our students are 04 Work from set able to take part in exchange trips, and benefit design student, from visiting practitioners, experts and a range of Ariadne Bicknell. international academics.” The college also believes it essential to have close relationships with industry. “Each year our graduation students receive awards, with the aim to give their careers an important boost,” adds Knowles. WE HAV E E XC E LL E N T One of these is provided RELAT I O N S H I P S W I T H through the college’s Wandle ORGANISAT I O NS A N D Prize, awarded by futureMerton, INSTITUT I O N S A L L OV E R UAL and Merton Abbey Mills. A THE WOR LD graduating student is chosen as a re01 Jayne Knowles, associate dean cipient of rent-free studio space for 16
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05 05 The ‘steely’ Arthur the Stag at Wimbledon station.
06 Students value collaboration at the arts college.
06 a year at Abbey Mills, as well as mentoring and support to develop their own business or career. Knowles says: “That is an exceptional opportunity for graduates, which also benefits the local area, as it retains their creativity and entrepreneurship and feeds that into the community beyond the college.” Ties to the surrounding borough of Merton are encouraged and for students and teachers alike, the college offers the advantages of being located fairly close to central London, with excellent connections to some of the UK’s major film and television companies, as well as theatres and galleries. Students are encouraged to make the most of these during their time at Wimbledon. But being located away from the centre of London has benefits too, with a chance to work in a more serene green space and the outdoors. Dimitri Lin, who graduated in summer 2016 from a fine arts course, says: “There’s definitely something unique about Wimbledon. The old school
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art school feel of the place and the relatively tranquil setting gave me a much-needed chance to concentrate on my work with few distractions.” The latest addition to the college is a studio building that opened in 2015 and is used by students on BA theatre and screen (set design for screen) BA fine art and print, and time-based media courses. As well as providing better facilities for students, the building was developed with good practice in sustainability at the top of the agenda, with a BREEAM ‘outstanding’ rating. It was designed by Peynoyre & Prasad and is the recipient of the Ashen Prize 2016 at the New London Architecture Awards, which champions sustainable projects that demonstrate high levels of energy efficiency. Solar panels provide 100% of the energy required to light the space and also contribute to the heating. The building meets the standards for carbon emissions. THE GRADUATES As the latest set of graduates donned caps and gowns to receive their degrees in July 2016, many will have been hoping to follow in the footsteps of BA print and time-based media graduate Henry Day, who designed a geometric sculpture called Rebound Symmetry for business improvement district, Love Wimbledon. The installation made of 350 tennis balls is hanging above The Piazza in the centre of Wimbledon to celebrate the town centre’s links with the famous lawn tennis tournament. Local artist Isabelle Southwood is also a graduate of Wimbledon College of Arts and created the iconic stag sculpture outside Wimbledon station in 2012. ‘Arthur the Stag’ is made from steel and stands three metres high and three metres wide. Southwood sought to create the impression that the stag has wandered from his rural landscape up the hill into the busy urban environment of Wimbledon. With close ties to organisations in the Merton area and an international reputation for the quality of work its students produce, alumni at the Wimbledon College of Arts and the quality of teaching are continuing to improve. For the future, the college aims to continue attracting talented students from around the world, adding diversity to this part of south-west London, and in the process improving the quality of life for residents with striking sculptures dotted around the town, theatre performances at borough venues and art exhibitions. o I SS UE 1
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MERTON COUNCIL futureMerton
When it comes to growth, Merton means business. merton.gov.uk/businesssupport
Award-winning support 2015 Best All Round Small Business Friendly Borough 2016 Best Programme of Business Support 2016 Highly commended for Best Place-Based Campaign to Support Local Trade By the Federation of Small Business & London Councils
CONNECTIVITY
GROWING PLACES Wimbledon’s status as a multi-modal transport hub is set to boost economic growth in Merton BY PAUL COLEMAN
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lisabeth Beresford’s fictional, furry creatures, The Wombles, provided many children with their introduction to Wimbledon. “Underground, overground, wombling free,” the opening line to The Wombles song, written by Mike Batt, is rather apt, given the town’s various connectivity options. Wimbledon station is the UK’s only transport hub set up for rail, tube, trams, buses, taxis and bicycles. This ensures Wimbledon enjoys a unique multi-modal connectivity to the rest of London and the wider region.
the Zone 3 tube station in 2015. Residents and businesses of all sizes are also served by the station’s role as a primary stop that connects Wimbledon to Clapham Junction and London Waterloo. The town is also an important south-west London destination and connection for Thameslink passengers. The station is the key Southern rail services stop on the Sutton loop that connects people in this part of southwest London to London Victoria and London Bridge.
NEW TRANSPORT ENGINEERING WILL ALWAYS COMPLEMENT THE GRAIN AND CHARACTER OF WIMBLEDON AS A PLACE OF WORK AND CULTURE Transport has historically driven Wimbledon’s evolution. The arrival of the London and Southampton Railway in 1838 and the later development of more lines during the Victorian era, transformed the town from a village on the hill into an important rail junction and London suburb. In the 21st century, improved transport continues to help the town evolve from a lively suburban centre into a thriving commercial and cultural district, which is a magnet for business. Wimbledon station is a District line terminal. More than 15 million passenger journeys were made through 20
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Small wonder then that an eclectic mix of larger retailers, eateries and offices see Wimbledon as a target location to set up a base. Great public transport also helps smaller, independent enterprises – including shops, restaurants, pubs, guesthouses, galleries and hotels – that regard Wimbledon and the wider borough of Merton as one of London’s reliable business-friendly locations. The town centre thrives thanks to footfall increases prompted by activity days on the piazza, such as a market, which takes place every weekend, and
01 01 Wimbledon’s varying transport options provide access to places across London.
seasonal events such as live tennis on a big screen during Wimbledon fortnight, Ride London and Wimbledon Winter Wonderland at Christmas. Looking further ahead, analysis of Wimbledon’s economy leads Merton Council to conclude that the town centre’s commercial floor space could double by 2030. Shops, hotels, conference, leisure and cultural facilities could enrich Wimbledon while enhancing the area’s
unique character and heritage. The council’s Future Wimbledon conference and ideas competition, organised jointly by the council and local BID, Love Wimbledon, produced 100 entries from all over the world. Many showed how a rebuilt station could accommodate Crossrail 2 and revitalise the town centre offer. They stimulated debate about the future of retail, workspaces and the public realm. Martin Whelton, cabinet member
for regeneration, housing and transport, explains: “Merton is working to ensure that Crossrail 2 will enhance the needs of Wimbledon’s current and future residents and businesses by reducing traffic congestion and developing the town centre as a business and cultural location.” While there is much discussion about the precise way forward, most agree that Crossrail 2 promises to help unlock Wimbledon’s future potential I SS UE 1
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01 as a commercial and transport hub. The proposed north-south London rail link with more frequent services and newer trains will have an increased number of seats, and could shorten journey times between Wimbledon and London’s core business areas such as the West End, City of London and Canary Wharf. It could for instance reduce the travel time between Wimbledon and Tottenham Court Road by 15 to 20 minutes. Crossrail 2 would also enhance Wimbledon’s links to Surrey, across London and to Heathrow and Stansted airports. Merton Council agrees with local business and community representatives that Crossrail 2 at Wimbledon must be planned and phased effectively to minimise blight and job losses during construction. The objective is to keep the area open for business and ensure it remains a “vibrant and much-loved place”. The local authority is working hard to make sure local residents, businesses and landowners can gain the optimum benefits from Crossrail 2 with the minimum of disruption. If this balance can be achieved, this new piece of infrastructure could deliver significant bluechip investment to Wimbledon. In the meantime, Wimbledon will continue to offer new business opportunities to both companies seeking commercial premises and startups and small enterprises. With Crossrail 2 given the go-ahead, transport innovation will continue to create businesses and job opportunities in Wimbledon, 22
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03 01 Trams are popular for orbital travel. 02 The area is popular for cycling.
03 South West Trains operate in the area.
Merton’s economic engine – and the service could be in operation by 2030. But growth will always be accompanied by an awareness of the need to protect Wimbledon’s heritage and reputation as a renowned place for work, sport and leisure. o
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PROJEC TS Growth in Merton is demonstrable – the council calculates the value of investment and development projects at more than £1 billion, resulting in the delivery of high-quality housing and new open spaces. The local economy is also benefiting, as jobs are being created throughout the borough
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W I M BL E D O N H I LL P A R K
1 AFC Wimbledon
8
2 Colliers Wood Tower
New Malden
3 Wimbledon Hill Park
Raynes Park
R A IN B OW I N D UST R I A L E STAT E
4 Y:Cube
Motspur Park
5 Circle Housing: High Path
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Worcester Park
7 Circle Housing: Ravensbury 24
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8 Rainbow Industrial Estate
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G R E ATE R LO N DO N Tooting Broadway Wimbledon Park
1
AFC WIMBLEDON Haydons Road
Wimbledon Colliers Wood
Dundonald Road South Wimbledon
2
COLLIER S WOOD TOW E R
5
Tooting
Streatham Common
HIGH PATH Merton Park
Wimbledon Chase
uth Merton
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Morden Road
Y : C U BE
4 6
E A ST F IE L D S
Phipps Bridge Morden
Belgrave Walk
7 Morden South
RAVENSBURY Mitcham
Mitcham Junction St Helier
Hackbridge
I SS UE 1
F UTUR E M E R T o N
25
M E RTO N P R OJ EC T S
01
01 AFC Wimbledon is due to move to a 20,000-seat stadium. 02 The project will improve the surrounding area.
03 New homes and commerical space will be created.
02 26
FUT URE M ERT o N
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C O L L I E R S WO O D T OW E R 8PSL PO UIF mSTU QIBTF PG UIF SFWBNQFE $PMMJFST Wood tower development, located by the underground station, is nearing completion. Voted London’s ugliest building in a 2006 BBC poll in its former guise as the Brown & Root tower, the 19-storey building has been transformed by developer Criterion Capital with the installation of glass cladding. 5IF EFWFMPQNFOU XJMM DPOTJTU PG nBUT BOE B TFSJFT PG TIPQT PO UIF HSPVOE nPPS BT XFMM BT a public plaza, which will act as a “focal point” to the area. Plans for the tower were granted approval by Merton Council in 2011. Work started in February 2015 and is due to complete next year. A second, upcoming phase of the development is expected to go to planning in 2017.
AFC WIMBLEDON NEW STADIUM
03
A new football stadium for AFC Wimbledon could eventually hold up to 20,000 people. The Plough Lane venue will cater for the rise in the number of supporters the team has seen after climbing up the English leagues, from the ninth tier in 2002 to League One (third tier) in 2016. The scheme also features 600 homes, a leisure club, retail and commercial space. Conceived by AFC Wimbledon, Galliard Homes and landowners GRA, a planning application was submitted to Merton Council for an initial 11,000capacity ground in December 2014. After a consultation period involving residents, the council’s planning committee unanimously agreed to grant consent in December 2015. Plans were backed by the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, at the end of the summer 2016, when he handed back power to Merton Council after previous mayor Boris Johnson had called in the initial decision to grant planning approval. I SS UE 1
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M E RTO N P R OJ EC T S
01
02
01 Y:Cube provides colourful and characterful homes. 02 Properties are constructed using a modular system.
WIMBLEDON HILL PARK Developer Berkeley Homes is to deliver 91 new homes on 0 1 Copse Hill. Work is currently under way at the Wimbledon Hill Park scheme (right), which includes Cedar Place, Wellington Row, Dukes Gardens and three blocks providing housing units to be allocated as affordable. The scheme also includes 7.69 ha of parkland: ÂŁ390,000 has been invested for its maintenance and management and ÂŁ75,000 for fencing and gates. Cedar Place, now completed, is made up of six 243sq m four-bedroom mews villas featuring private gardens. Also completed are the mSTU OJOF VOJUT JO UIF UISFF housing blocks to be allocated for shared ownership. The other 19 properties in the blocks, targeted
28
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for social rent, will be completed in March 2017. This part of the development is being delivered in partnership with Paragon Community Housing. The Wellington Row development consists of the restoration of the former Atkinson Morley Hospital to provide 27 apartments, which should be completed in March 2017. Dukes Gardens will provide 30 two and three-bedroom apartments in February 2017. Wimbledon Hill Park will also include three sports pitches, a sports pavilion with a car park and new footpaths to link facilities. Once completed, the scheme will create opportunities for employment in concierge, maintenance and associated building and facilities management.
Y:CUBE Y:Cube is a housing solution developed by charity YMCA London South West to provide affordable accommodation for people in Merton. A set of self-contained one-bedroom homes are constructed using a modular system. They are built off-site and then assembled in blocks on plots which are either too small for traditional development or have ground conditions unsuitable for more usual construction methods. This system ensures construction time is shorter and the price is lower: it is estimated that Y:Cube schemes can CF EFWFMPQFE JO mWF NPOUIT BOE DPTU 25% less than traditional build projects, meaning construction expenses can be
paid back in a 10 to 15-year period. Units are conceived as accommodation for people previously hosted by YMCA in hostels, as well as young people living in care, low income families and students. Included in the mayor of London’s housing strategy, the initiative is a partnership between YMCA, designer Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, consultant Aecom and off-site manufacturer SIG Building Systems – as well as Merton Council. 5IF mSTU TVDI QSPKFDU UP CF JNQMFmented was Y:Cube Mitcham. Located on Clay Avenue, it is a 100% affordable housing scheme. It has been
agreed with the local authority that 50% of the people living there will be YMCA residents currently based in the charity’s hostels, and the other 50% will be nominations from Merton Council. The rent is lower than the local IPVTJOH BMMPXBODF GPS B POF CFE nBU JO Merton, and each home will be let on a short-hold tenancy of between three and mWF ZFBST Along with investment from YMCA, the Mitcham scheme was funded with a £337,000 grant from the mayor of London’s building the pipeline scheme and investments from EsmÊe Fairbairn Foundation, Trust for London, the Tudor Trust and the City Bridge Trust.
M E RTO N P R OJ EC T S
C I R C L E H O U S I N G M E RTO N P R I O RY A multimillion-pound project is set to bring thousands of new homes to three neighbourhoods in Merton. Formed in 2010, Circle Housing Merton Priory is a charity investing in the borough, where it will create homes and outside spaces. It owns and manages around 9,500 properties in Wimbledon, Morden and Mitcham and is currently consultJOH XJUI SFTJEFOUT BU &BTUmFMET High Path and Ravensbury about plans to redevelop their neighbourhoods as part of the Merton Regeneration Project. The charity plans to build around 2,600 new homes over a 12-year period, investing more than ÂŁ500 million. This involves replacing 1,000 existing properties and adding 1,600 homes across the three areas. Planning applications are being prepared and, if permission is granted, work will TUBSU JO FBSMZ XJUI UIF mSTU residents moving into their new homes in 2018.
R A I N B OW I N D U S T R I A L E S T A T E Raynes Park is to see 224 homes built and 3,437sq m of commercial space created as part of the redevelopment of Rainbow Industrial Estate. Workspace Group was granted planning permission for the scheme in September 2015. Plans also include an energy centre, 190 parking spaces, 274 cycle storage spaces, amenity space and landscaping. The Rainbow Industrial Estate, located to the south of Raynes Park station, is currently occupied by 17 units, used for storage and light industrial space. Workspace’s scheme involves the demolition of the buildings currently on site. They will be replaced by six blocks of BQBSUNFOUT PG mWF UP TFWFO TUPSFZT BOE OJOF UFSSBDFE IPVTFT A new forecourt and drop-off space for Raynes Park station will also be created. o 30
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Shaping Change - Colliers Wood
N E I G H B O U R H O O D S C O L L I E R S WO O D
I F YO U G O D OW N TO T H E WO O D. . . Perceptions of Colliers Wood are improving all the time. Future Merton takes a stroll around the neighbourhood to find out why BY MARIA SHAHID
01 32
FUT URE M ERT o N
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02
C
olliers Wood is fast becoming one of the most sought-after areas for young professionals and families in south London. Merton High Street and Colliers Wood High Street, the arteries that run through the area, are undergoing a transformation. Previously there was little to make a passerby want to stop and linger – why would they when nearby retail parks and Wimbledon town centre both offer more enticing shopping experiences and are a 15-minute walk away in each direction? But Colliers Wood, affectionately known as Collywood by locals, is changing fast and now the first sight to greet any visitor on leaving the underground station is the newly glass-clad Colliers Wood Tower. The former Brown & Root tower, once voted London’s ugliest building, is being redeveloped by Miflats as a mixed-use residential block with retail units underneath, adding life to a new plaza. And across the road, gastropub The Charles Holden awaits, featuring a well-tended and tranquil beer garden backing onto Wandle Park, providing relief to weary commuters after a hectic workday. The area suffered during the 2011 riots, and subsequently benefited from £1.6 million of
funding from the mayor’s 01 Colliers Wood tower is seen to have Regeneration Fund, in improved the skyline. addition to £280,000 from 02 The tube station is Merton Council. on the Northern line. The local authority has worked in partnership with Transport for London (TfL) and the mayor of London on its Connecting Colliers Wood project. Its aim is to make it easier for residents and visitors to walk from the tube station to historical sites such as Merton Abbey Mills and the Wandle Valley Regional Park by creating new public spaces around the tube station, and in particular Baltic Close located opposite, which now brings Wandle Park into the heart of the town centre. The public space designs draw on the borough’s heritage, and in particular connections with William Morris, who was at the forefront of the arts and crafts movement and relocated his dyeworks to Merton Abbey Mills. Morris’ printing blocks have been reinterpreted as new seating, glazed ceramic walls echoing the local industries and charcoal works that gave Colliers Wood its name. Baltic Close, reimagined as a ‘homezone’, is due to open to the public in the summer, and I SS UE 1
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N E I G H B O U R H O O D S C O L L I E R S WO O D
features upgraded entrances along the Wandle Park boundary. Martin Smith is futureMerton’s infrastructure engineer leading on the project, and explains that its aim is to “open up the area, and make it more attractive for local residents to use while subtly referencing its design heritage”. “We’re creating a much nicer and safer place for locals to use, and as part of this have installed CCTV cameras and a range of new soft landscaping features along Baltic Close,” Smith adds. Designed by architect Gort Scott, public realm upgrades include new railings along the River Wandle promenade in front of Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s on the high street – both big draws for Merton residents. SMARTENED UP The council has also provided funding to other local businesses on the high street, such as estate agents, C. James; local pub, The Royal Standard, and Italian eatery, Corleone, to improve their shop fronts. Ivan Krycfalusij is the owner of the restaurant and explains that with the council covering 75% of the costs, the establishment’s frontage has changed from grey to a more enticing red, white and green – mimicking the colours of the Italian flag. In addition to this, since January 2015, TfL has begun a programme of works on the A24 road and Christchurch Road around the tower which will simplify pedestrian crossings, provide segregated cycle lanes and reduce the impact of through traffic. Kevin Godding is the chair of the Colliers Wood Residents Association and has lived in the area for more than 35 years. “Colliers Wood is an incredibly exciting place to be right now – people are always pleasantly surprised when they come here,” he explains. Part of its charm lies in the rows of terraced houses located a stone’s throw from the high street, houses that are – in comparison to those in Wimbledon, Balham and Tooting – still relatively affordable. According to website Rightmove, average property prices in the area are around £409,600. Being located within walking distance of the Northern line ensures a commute to central London takes no longer than 25 minutes, while for young families the lure of Singlegate primary school, one of many in Merton to have an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted report, is also a draw. Godding’s daughter, Sophie, runs one of 34
FUT URE M ERT o N
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01 The awardwinning Coffee in the Wood.
02 The Charles Holden pub receives glowing reviews. 03 Home-made cakes in Colliers Wood’s cafes.
01
02
03 FACTS
25mins
Journey time to central London
£409,600 Average property price
£1.6m
Investment from mayor’s regeneration fund
Colliers Wood’s most popular hangouts – Coffee in the Wood – winner of Time Out’s Love London Awards in the Coffee Shop category for SW19 for two years’ running. Its outdoor seating, ambience and tempting range of cakes and coffees make it a firm favourite among locals. For avid readers, a new Colliers Wood library is also being redeveloped. Urbanicity, advised by Indigo Planning, was given the go-ahead by the council in 2015. The six-storey development will include an upgraded and enlarged state-of-theart library facility. Visitors will benefit from more space for books, DVDs and e-books, a coffee shop, community meeting rooms, special activity zones and a larger children’s area. Sixty one, two and three-bedroom houses are also being developed, with the building designed to reflect the Charles Holden-designed Colliers Wood underground station. The foundations were laid in June 2016, and residents are currently being consulted on the interior design of the library, with completion expected for summer 2017. Things are looking up for Colliers Wood and its residents are rightly proud of this once overlooked corner of London. o
essentialliving.uk.com
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Plans are currently in place for residents’ gym. Travel times taken from TfL. Help to Buy is a Government-backed tiative in partnership with housebuilders. Available on selected plots, subject to status, terms and conditions. Help Buy cannot be used in conjunction with any other scheme. It is highly advised, for a swift, smooth transaction that IFA/Solicitor advised by Redrow Homes is used. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other Redrow offer. GI image is indicative only. Prices correct at time of going to press. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep repayments on a mortgage or any other debt secured on it. Check that this mortgage will meet your needs if you ant to move or sell your home or you want your family to inherit it. If you are in any doubt, seek independent advice.
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01 36
FUT URE M ERT o N
orden town centre is a busy place – cafes and barbershops abound, but it lacks the sort of retail and leisure offer to make its ever-evolving and increasingly aspirational demographic want to stop and linger. And why should they? Buzzier and busier Wimbledon, with its selection of high street and high-end brands, is just a short bus ride away. But things are about to change. Unlocking Morden’s potential is now a key priority in a project driven by Merton Council, Transport for London (TfL) and the mayor of London aimed at transforming Morden town centre over the next five years. Launched in 2016 after long and careful
ISSU E 1
public consultation, the scheme involves redesigning the high street, removing buses from outside the underground station and creating a new public space. New housing and commercial premises will be supported by infrastructure such as schools, health centres and leisure facilities. After design testing and further consultation, development of Morden’s new public realm will start in 2019 and be completed by 2021. THE STATION IS THE KEY Historically, railways drove the growth of suburban London, but Morden was a relatively late developer. While 0 1 nearby Wimbledon had a population of 42,000 by 1901, Morden had less
ALL CHANGE AT MORDEN Aided by housing zone status, Morden’s transformation is a key priority for Merton Council, which in the process is redefining suburban centres B Y D AV I D G R AY
01 Well-connected, bustling and green – Morden town centre.
02 Zone two London is 11 minutes from Morden on the tube.
02 than 1,000 residents. It was the arrival of the Northern line in 1926 and Southern Railway in 1930 that turned Morden from a rural parish into a suburban town centre. Shopping and leisure facilities were developed around the station and this remains the core of the town.
According to TfL, more than 27,000 passengers use Morden underground every day. Redeveloping the station and surrounding area is key to the whole town centre project. It is the catalyst to provide new retail, restaurants, public spaces and much-needed housing. Merton Council and TfL, both major landowners in the town, have agreed a planning brief to redevelop the station site and are now seeking a development partner. Detailed proposals are expected in mid-2017. H O U S I N G ZO N E S U C C E SS The ambition for new homes in the town centre received a massive boost in November 2015 when I SS UE 1
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37
NEIGHBOURHOODS
01 Morden became one of the mayor of London’s 20 housing zones. These are designed to speed up housebuilding and regeneration. The Morden zone is forecast to deliver 1,070 new homes in several phases over the next eight years with a masterplan developed during 2017. The Greater London Authority is reserving funding of £42 million to assist delivery of the new housing across Morden, of which up to 40% will be affordable. Not only will housing zone status bring much-needed homes to Morden, it will also help rejuvenate the town centre. Along with the new flats will come commercial and retail opportunities, plus new public space and infrastructure. All of London’s housing zones are designed to make better use of available land, with the public sector taking the lead in Morden’s £300 million scheme. METROLAND TRANSFORMED At present, the town centre is divided in two by the busy A24 as well as a gyratory system. The current bus terminus outside Morden station provides an unappealing environment for tube travellers, and the streets and spaces that greet them as they leave the station in the centre are similarly under par. Merton Council and TfL are now working to relocate the buses, remove the gyratory, and improve the street environment, as well as creating new spaces. Almost £10 million is to be spent on these improvements and, subject to final funding and technical approvals, they will be implemented in 2018/19. Merton Council is also delivering a new leisure centre and swimming pool in Morden Park – the £11 million amenity will open in 2018. The new public space by the station will link to Morden Hall Park, which is National Trust property. Pedestrian routes in the town centre will be improved and easier connections made between Morden’s tube, rail, bus and tram links. 38
FUT URE M ERT o N
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01 Morden Hall Park on the River Wandle.
02 A waterwheel is a notable feature. 03 The striking Merton Civic Centre.
04 Public transport options are numerous in Morden.
03
02
04 FACTS
1,070
New homes to be delivered over the next eight years...
40%
Allocated as affordable.
£11m
Investment in a leisure centre and swimming pool in Morden Park.
The Tramlink stop on Morden Road takes passengers to Wimbledon station. Morden’s already excellent connectivity is also likely to benefit from potential improvements to Thameslink, as well as the connection of the Northern line to Crossrail 2 in the future. REINVENTING THE SUBURBS The town centre’s imminent transformation could prove a valuable template for other suburban centres around London, especially those at the end of underground lines. Like Morden, many of these places have the potential to do much better, given the right commitment and funding. Such regeneration is complex and takes time, but Merton Council, TfL and the other partners in Morden have shown that clear and coordinated planning among public sector partners can help such schemes become reality. o
Merton Regeneration Project
Circle Housing invests in neighbourhoods to create new homes and jobs, parks and community facilities and improve quality of life.
We’re helping to meet Merton’s housing shortage with new energy efficient, high quality homes. Our £900m regeneration will deliver 2,600 new homes including rebuilding over 1,000 existing homes for the residents of High Path, Eastfields and Ravensbury. Have a look at the plans on our website. www.mertonregen.org.uk
M A R K E T S OV E R V I E W
MERTON MARKE TS H O U S IN G ZONE STATUS
T H E FO U R T S
1 ,7 00 new homes planned for Morden
Trams
Trains A new
£ 1 1 million leisure facility in Morden Park Tubes CO L LI E RS WOOD TRANSFORM S
£1.6million £ 2 8 0, 0 0 0 from Merton Council 40
FUT URE M ERT o N
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Taxis Wimbledon enjoys a unique multi-modal connectivity
Freekpik/Flaticon/Zlatko Najdenovski
from the mayor’s Regeneration Fund together with...
POP U LATI O N IN 2015
2 0 4,6 00
AV E R AG E H O U S E P R I C E
ÂŁ 5 1 6, 0 8 8 May 2016
Source: Land Registry data
Safe as houses Merton is in the top three safest London boroughs EMP LOYM E N T RATE
7 5.8 % Over 5% above the London average
5 8 % Over half of working age residents in Merton have a NVQ4 level qualification and above, which is more than
8 %
above the London average Source: Nomis
CRO SSR A I L 2
Euston to Wimbledon
1 7m i n u t e s Tottenham Court Road to Wimbledon
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01 01 The spirit of community thrives at Wimbletech.
02 The facility has attracted around 150 members.
03 Hack Wimbledon offers troubleshooting support to members.
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ST R E N GT H I N NUMBERS With community at its heart, Wimbletech nurtures SMEs in a vibrant space above Wimbledon library. The model has been so successful it is now being franchised across the country B Y L U C Y P U R DY
aving raised funds to launch a mobile app, David Fletcher was flitting from Pret and Starbucks in Wimbledon to the Google campus in central London for meetings. “I was spending hundreds of pounds on coffee and transport and I wasn’t being massively productive.� So he resolved to dedicate a day to finding a workspace closer to home and stumbled across an underused space above Wimbledon Library. He approached Merton Council with the idea of turning it into a co-working space, and never looked back. It grew into Wimbletech. The facility now has close to 150 members – startups which benefit from desk space in the centre of Wimbledon
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from around ÂŁ100 a month. Lean and nimble, it is built around a strong sense of community and such is the demand that the model is being replicated up and down the country, from Hounslow to Birmingham. The bright and modern space runs regular ‘hour of power’ sessions – group meet-ups to solve business challenges – as well as HackWimbledon, a troubleshooting or ‘hack’ space for makers and creators. From the council’s point of view, Wimbletech generates sustainable revenue, boosts footfall and delivers free community events. Anthony Hopkins, head of library and heritage services for Merton Council, says: “It makes use of our buildings and brings different people
“So Wimbletech offered a very simple solution. But more than that, I bought into the idea of creating an economic engine for growth in Wimbledon. “Also, I wanted to do what I could to help make David’s vision reality. To this day that is what Wimbletech is really about: entrepreneurs being there for each other.� Being based at Wimbletech saves
Vanberg a two-hour commute each EBZ HJWJOH IJN UIF nFYJCJMJUZ UP ESPQ IJT daughter off at school and pick her up. And the connections he has made as a result? “Mainly friends. You’d think I’d be looking for investors and partners, and I DPVME o CVU QSJNBSJMZ * WF IBE UIF CFOFmU of not working alone. “That means a lot. Entrepreneurship can be brutal sometimes.�
S P O K E I N N OVA T I O N Kristian Vanberg runs Spoke Innovation, an enterprise software marketing DPNQBOZ )F XBT 8JNCMFUFDI T mSTU FWFS member, signing up when David Fletcher walked up to him in Starbucks and explained his plans. i* E CFFO MPPLJOH BU PGmDF TQBDF GPS some time and had been considering renting a larger space in central Wimbledon and then subletting.
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in to use the library services, as well as having great community value. Economically, it keeps small businesses spending, working and bringing new 01 investment into the borough. The sheer diversity of companies there is amazing. Some of the things they’re working on are very exciting.� The collaboration, part-funded by futureMerton, is just one of many SME-friendly actions by Merton Council. The authority was recognised twice for the support it gives to small businesses at the Small Business Friendly Borough Awards in 2015, organised by the London region of the Federation of Small Businesses and London Councils. o
01 Drone testing at a Hack Wimbledon session, where makers and creators test new products. 02 Bombshell Consultancy now plans to stay at Wimbletech for the long-term.
E. J. Shaffert runs Holistic London, an online resource for holistic services in the capital. The company launched two years ago and, says Shaffert, would not be where it is now without the supportive environment at Wimbletech. “I feel very fortunate to be a member,� he says. “As a solo entrepreneur in Wimbledon, my previous options were to work from home at the kitchen table, or take up space at the local coffee shop. As you can imagine, both of these options severely marginalised my business life. “I now have a proper desk, in a friendly and professional environment, at which I can work each day. I love it and get a lot done.� He describes the space as an “important and valuable addition to our community� and says it has brought new life and opportunity to the area. “I truly expect that this initiative will develop and nPVSJTI BOE CFcome as essenI T R U LY tial an element in E X P ECT T H AT the lives of many T H I S I N I TI AT I V E professionals W I L L D E V ELO P and business A N D F LO UR I S H people, as it has for me.� E.J. Shaffert
B O M B S H E L L C O N S U LT A N C Y
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Sandra Nardi is founder and managing director of Bombshell Consultancy, a digital marketing agency. The company is a year and a half old and has 10 staff, four of whom are based at Wimbletech. #PNCTIFMM mSTU DBNF UP UIF TQBDF BGUFS SFBEJOH B magazine interview with David Fletcher. “As a startup, it allowed us to take a leap from CFJOH CBTFE BU IPNF UP PVS mSTU PGmDF w TBZT /BSEJ “It was only meant to be a stepping stone but JU IBT HFOFSBUFE TP NBOZ BGmMJBUJPOT XF JOUFOE UP continue to grow here.� Being at Wimbletech connects the company, says Nardi, to “the smartest minds in tech�. “It means other companies can plug in per project rather than be on my payroll, making it a low risk business yet very cutting-edge. Wimbletech offers a new MFBTF PG MJGF GPS TUBSU VQT *U T OPU KVTU PGmDF TQBDF David has invested time and experience to create a tech network which has proven to be invaluable for HSPXUI BOE JO mOEJOH FYQFSUJTF PVUTJEF ZPVS PXO w
PARTNERS Joining together to support Merton Council
A FC W I M BL EDON
K I N GSTO N E STAT E S
Commercial enquiries commercial@afcwimbledon.co.uk
George Hickman georgeh@kingston-estates.com
WO R KSP A C E
3 FOX I N TE R N AT I O NA L
Angus Boag angus.boag@workspace.co.uk
Harr y Seal harry@3foxinternational.com
For more information about these companies, visit futuremerton.co.uk
S I T E M ATC H
OPPORTUNITY SITE:
M O R D E N TOW N CENTRE
The council is establishing detailed proposals for Morden town centre, a key development opportunity site in the London Borough of Merton BY MARCO CILLARIO
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n Morden town centre, 1,070 new homes are planned – 40% of which will be allocated as affordable – as well as retail and public spaces. Merton Council will be looking to appoint a development partner to deliver a substantial regeneration project. The council has received £200,000 from Transport for London (TfL) to conceive preliminary designs for the area’s roads and public spaces. This may lead to a further bid to TfL for up to £8 million of investment in roads. The town centre was given housing zone status in October 2015 by former mayor of London Boris Johnson, meaning the Greater London Authority will make £42 million available to developers for
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the delivery of homes in the area. Merton Council consulted with residents in November 2015 to develop the plans. The local authority said they had received more than 1,000 responses on the proposals. A masterplan is now being conceived to guide development in the area. TfL and Merton Council-owned land makes up the majority of the site. Supporting infrastructure such as school places and health facilities will be considered as part of the scheme. 0UIFS CFOFmUT XIJDI XJMM CF JNQMFmented include improving the public realm and streetscape, moving the bus and tube stations further away from each other and creating better public space.
5IF mOBM WFSTJPO PG UIF NBTUFSQMBO will be put together in collaboration with a development partner. Work should start in 2019 and will take place in phases over eight years. Residents will be consulted on the draft masterplan in 2017.
Sitematch is an event where developers can meet London councils UP EJTDVTT TQFDJmD PQQPSUVOJUJFT For more information contact: josie@3fox international.com
Developers – meet councils 8 February 2017, The Shard, London
Visit sitematchlondon.com or contact the Sitematch team on 0207 978 6840
SITEMATCHLONDON.COM Advisers
Partners
C85 M21 Y0 K0
Organiser
R0 G152 B219
Capita Real Estate
Wandle is proud to be developing new homes in Merton. We are committed to tackling the shortage of good quality affordable housing regeneration and growth in the london borough of merton
r e g e ne r a t ion a nd g r ow t h in t he london bor oug h of m e r t o n
With a New Homes Strategy to deliver over 1,000 homes over the next five years we require: Sites 15 – 50 units Sites with or without planning New s106 partners Joint venture partners (60 units +)
SPACE SHUTTLE
Multi-modal connectivity
HOMES BASE
Building up the borough
2016
Peter Beggan – Land Manager (New Business) 020 8682 7301 / 07908 375 756 merton-land@wandle.com
au tu mn
Please get in touch to find out more...
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LAUNCH PAD
A spirit of enterprise