Decision on five-storey 'aparthotel' in south Wimbledon delayed for consultation over fate of Victorian cottages

Jones Granville first applied to Merton Council to build an eight-storey tower block featuring 31 serviced apartments and nine residential flats in 34-40 Morden Road near South Wimbledon Station.

Councillors unanimously rejected the first plan in October 2013, on the grounds it was too high, inappropriate for the area and would overshadow adjacent properties.

After an appeal by Jones Granville was thrown out by an independent planning inspectorate last year, the developers submitted a revised application for a five-storey aparthotel with 17 service apartments and nine residential flats.

An architect's impression of how the five-storey aparthotel could look. Picture: Jones Granville

The planning committee was due to approve plans at a meeting earlier this month, but the decision was delayed after Abbey ward councillors Andrew Judge and Katy Neep stepped in to call for an extension to a consultation on whether the cottages built in the 1820s should be locally listed.

Councillor Andrew Judge, who started a petition to save the cottages in September, said: "I collected a petition last year because they are the only cottages remaining from that period of time in the neighbourhood.

"Merton Council's officers disagree because of a number of alterations over the years but I believe that there's an argument for them to be locally listed."

Couns Judge and Neep are now calling for the cottages to be restored to reinforce their original characteristics. They are proposing a mews development which would pay for the restoration of the cottages.

Andrew Boyce, a member of The Path Residents’ Association, said: “I have heard accusations that we are against change. We fully support development on the site provided it’s in keeping with what’s there at the moment."

To take part in the consultation over the cottages, send your comments by March 9 to future.merton@merton.gov.uk