Last Updated on 27 January 2022
Bank Buildings, at 41-47 Wimbledon Hill Road, was built in 1885 and is described as one of the “most magnificent buildings in the town centre” in a Council assessment. For some years there have been plans to turn the upper floors into an hotel. We opposed an earlier scheme, in part because of a proposal to demolish all except the facade.
However, a new scheme has been submitted to Merton planners that would retain the existing building and restore it. A hotel is still planned for the upper floors but the internal layout is better than the previous plans.
But we are still not wholly in agreement with the new designs. We think that it is undesirable that the hotel is planned to be unmanned with an entrance around the corner in Alwyne Road. We have suggested that the entrance should be on Wimbledon Hill Road and should have some form of oversight presence.
You can read our letter here.
