Land including council-owned car parks, a former factory and a youth centre have been earmaked to be converted into new primary schools.

A report for Merton Council conducted by independent consultants Capita has identified seven sites across Wimbledon that could be used to provide new schools to cope with rising demand in the west of the borough.

Sites include the council-owned car park for Centre Court shopping centre in Queen’s Road, as revealed by the Wimbledon Guardian in July, by sharing the site with the Wimbledon New Baptist church.

Concerns however were raised over the proximity of the railway and limited space, as well as potential legal complications.

Also mentioned are the former Manuplastics factory in Kingston Road, bought privately for £4m in 2008, the Leyton Road youth centre in south Wimbledon, the car park in Kenley Road, the Whatley Centre in Whatley Road, Raynes Park, and a site shared by the Trinitarian Bible Society and the Ministry of Defence in Merton Park.

The report recommended the Dairy Crest site in Gap Road, Wimbledon Park, should be "kept open as a future option", despite the owners demanding a "financial incentive to move".

Predicted population rises suggest seven new forms of entry classes will be needed by 2018, on top of the 20 created since 2010 and two already in the process of being created.

Last week Coun Whelton, cabinet member for education, said building a new school on non-council-owned land could cost about £15m.

He said: “I welcome the report that has been undertaken into future school provision in the Wimbledon area.

“With rising demand, as a council we continue to plan for future school places.

“However, the delayed capital funding announcement by the Secretary of State has made future planning difficult and we have made representations through London Councils about this delay which is having a detrimental impact on future planning.”