A proposal has been submitted to demolish a part of Merton Abbey Mills in order to build a five-storey block.

The plans include the demolition of The Pavilions and removal of the nearby marquees in order to build “a new five storey office building for start-ups and creative businesses”.

The new structure, which would be called ‘Liberty Works’, has been proposed by Office Estates Ltd, a company based in Soho.

The brick and glass building, described as an “active new business hub” in the plans, will include a publicly accessible ground floor with amenities including cafes, presentation and performance spaces, while the other four floors will be a mixture of open work spaces, meeting rooms and enclosed offices.

The planning statement submitted by Office Estates Ltd said: “The structure has been designed to allow the rearrangement of the internal spaces to support evolving business needs.

“This creation of a low budget, flexible workspace for creative and start-up business is a valuable addition to the creative Merton Abbey Mills site.”

However, in a long response included in the planning documents, Merton Council’s cabinet member for community and culture, Councillor Nick Draper, has strongly opposed the plans.

He wrote: “The building is a monolith: and, for all the suggestions to the contrary, it towers over and obscures the heritage buildings.

“In my opinion there is absolutely no need to build an unimaginative brick and glass box, with nothing to distinguish it from so many other modern buildings, bang in the middle of one of Merton’s most important heritage sites.

“The Mills as a heritage area is under-visited by both locals and tourists, and that’s something that we as a borough need to strive to change, not effectively give in to.

“In short, the building falls well short of what could be there. It looks cheap, and huge, and uninviting.

“I’d like to reserve my right to make further, more technical objections to it, and, should it come to [planning] committee, I would like to speak against it.”

Merton Abbey Mills, in Colliers Wood, is a registered heritage site, and falls within the Wandle Valley Conservation Area.

Comments are being accepted on the proposals until Wednesday, March 8. To view the proposals, visit the Merton Council website and search planning application 17/P0390 or click here. 

What do you think? Email letters@wimbledonguardian.co.uk and let us know