On Thursday 15 June 2023, the London Borough of Merton’s Development and Planning Applications Committee, attended by Pell Frischmann, unanimously resolved to grant consent to an outline planning application related to the redevelopment of the High Path Estate in South Wimbledon.

The planning application (High Path Phases 4-7B) is for the revised proposals for part of the phased regeneration of the High Path Estate and will, in addition to earlier phases, provide up to 1,651 new and replacement private, affordable and social rented homes. The revisions to the masterplan and new planning application will result in an additional 568 homes, 40% of which will be affordable, compared to 1,704 homes originally consented for the entire estate up to April 2019. This contributes to the delivery of up to 2,272 new and replacement homes across the estate and includes a new local centre for South Wimbledon (including commercial and community space) and a 7,500 square metre neighbourhood park.

The £1 billion regeneration project which also includes the regeneration of the Eastfields and Ravensbury estates in Mitcham is already underway and will ultimately deliver approximately 3,300 much-needed high-quality new homes across the borough. With very good public transport accessibility at High Path, the majority of new homes will be ‘car-free’, although existing parking requirements for current residents, in particular disabled residents and for larger family homes, will be catered for. The proposals have been designed in accordance with the current London Borough of Merton and London Plan / Transport for London (TfL) transport policy requirements.

Pell Frischmann’s Transport and Land Development Team are pleased to have been closely involved in the Merton Estates regeneration project, providing support and expert advice to our client and masterplanning team since the project’s outset. The latest outline planning application was supported by a comprehensive Pell Frischmann Transport Assessment (TA) and Framework Travel Plan (FTP), which also aided detailed scoping discussions with the London Borough of Merton’s Highways and TfL Spatial Planning officers.

We’re glad to have also provided extensive advice to the masterplanning team in relation to the design and delivery of highway infrastructure and the co-ordination of the public realm. One of the key matters raised at the planning committee related to the timing of delivery of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure; the EV proposals for the High Path Estate were informed by a detailed EV charging strategy prepared by Pell Frischmann in collaboration with the client and wider design team.

The services provided by Pell Frischmann in support of the regeneration of the High Path, Eastfields and Ravensbury Estates, in the London Borough of Merton, include:

  • Transport planning and highway infrastructure design advice, supporting the development of the various masterplan proposals.
  • Engaging in pre-application scoping discussions with the London Borough of Merton’s Transport Planning and Highways officers, and TfL Spatial Planning.
  • Review of existing walking, cycling and public transport conditions, including identifying potential future improvements for the benefit of existing and future residents.
  • Transport Assessments (TAs) and Framework Travel Plans (FTPs) to support outline and subsequent phase-specific Reserved Matters (RM) planning applications.
  • Delivery and Servicing Management Plans; Estate Road Maintenance, Phasing and Access Plans; Car Parking Management Plans; and Electric Vehicle Charging Strategies, in support of phase-specific RM planning applications.
  • Developing traffic calming measures at High Path to reduce vehicle speeds and restrict access by heavy goods vehicles, to improve road safety and contribute to a more welcoming public realm for existing and future residents.
  • Taking a lead role in co-ordinating the public realm proposals – working closely with the client, project managers (Mace), project masterplanners (including PRP at High Path) and planning consultants (Savills).
  • Helping to co-ordinate the locations of sub-surface Underground Refuse System (URS) receptacles to avoid existing and proposed utilities.

Pell Frischmann is pleased to see the outline planning application receive a decisive resolution to grant consent and is very proud to have contributed to this transformative regeneration scheme.