Last Updated on 10 January 2025
Planning Application Statistics
In 2024 the Wimbledon Society Planning and Environment Committee considered 164 planning applications in detail (2023: 173). We objected to, or commented on, 74 (45%) of these (2023: 101 or 58%)
Planning and other Policy Issues
Once again, the AELTC’s planning application to develop Wimbledon Park Golf Course for tennis use by building an 8,000-seater stadium plus 38 other grass courts, many ancillary buildings and 9km of roads and paths, has occupied much of our time. We have continued to work with other local groups as the “Save Wimbledon Park” campaign to co-ordinate our opposition to the plans.
Having been considered by Merton and Wandsworth Councils in 2023, Merton voting 6-4 to approve and Wandsworth’s voting 7-0 to refuse, the applications moved up to the GLA for consideration by the Deputy Mayor for Planning. Whilst his decision to approve the application ended the planning process, the campaign continues with upcoming legal actions.
The Council’s new Local Plan was eventually adopted by the Council in late 2024. The guidance on our website about commenting on planning applications has been updated accordingly.
During 2024 we met with Council officers to discuss planning matters in general.
Environmental Issues
We have continued to liaise with the Climate Action team, relevant officers of Merton Council and local groups, including Merton Active Travel (MAT) on issues relating to climate, environment and sustainability. Including but not limited to:
· Analysing and commenting on the Biodiversity Net Gain guidance
· Reviewing London Borough of Merton’s (LBM) paper on approaches to sustainable design and construction
· Considering the case for and against uPVC windows
· Raising the issue of the poor state of Stink Pipes
· Liaising with MAT on LIP (local implementation plans) funding.
· Analysing and reporting on LBM‘s Climate Delivery plan year 4
· Compiling a note about issues and concerns relating to Trees in the Borough for discussion at a meeting with officers in September and forwarding the note to The Green Spaces team.
· Liaising with MAT over a proposed Coalition of groups in the Borough concerned about the lack of progress on climate issues
· Raising questions with LBM about the GLA’s Climate Resilience report
· Regularly sourcing items for the environment section of the Wimbledon Society website and contributing to the planning and environment pages in the Newsletter as well as producing the regular Greenwatch column.
