Merton Council is taking a firm stance against unsightly properties and planning breaches, issuing several notices to landowners to clean up their acts and addressing unauthorized developments.

The Merton Council Development and Planning Applications Committee addressed planning enforcement at a meeting on 31 July 2025, noting a report summarizing the Planning Enforcement Team's recent activities. Between 3 February 2025 and 17 July 2025, the team issued 11 notices, including 5 untidy land notices under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The Enforcement Report July 2025 provides further details on these actions.

The notices were served to land at:

  • Mitcham Telephone Exchange, London Road, Mitcham
  • 87 Park Avenue
  • 7 Lexden Avenue, Mitcham
  • 1 Edenvale Road, Mitcham
  • 14 Bake Lane

In addition to the untidy land notices, the Planning Enforcement Team has been actively addressing various planning breaches across the borough. These actions include:

  • Replacement of trees at woodland, Seymour Road, Wimbledon, following applications to remove trees in poor condition.
  • Clearance of untidy land at 21 Pentlands Close following informal negotiation.
  • Negotiation to ensure materials matched approved plans at 3 Hogarth Crescent.
  • Service of an enforcement notice at 1 Edenvale Road, Mitcham, for material change of use and untidy land.
  • Service of an enforcement notice at 27 Wilton Crescent for opening out a roof terrace balcony without planning permission.
  • Service of an enforcement notice at 31 Glebe Avenue, Mitcham, for a house converted into two flats.

  • Service of a breach of condition notice at the Former Mitcham Fire Station, 30 Lower Green West, Mitcham, regarding hoarding still in place after expiry of a temporary permission. Officers have visited the site to meet the developer, but the hoarding remains in place. The council is considering legal action as the hoarding is on council property.

  • Service of an enforcement notice at 56 Langdale Avenue, Mitcham, for conversion of a house into two flats.

  • Service of an enforcement notice at 50 Faversham Road, Morden, for unauthorised conversion of a single dwellinghouse into two self-contained flats.

  • Service of an untidy land notice at 22 Vectis Road, for an abandoned house.

  • Service of an enforcement notice at 7 Watery Lane, Wimbledon Chase, regarding removal of gates and a boundary wall, and installation of hardstanding.

  • Service of an urgent works notice at Tate Almhouses, Cricket Green, Mitcham, for damage to a wall. The persons responsible for the wall are cooperating with officers to get it rebuilt.

  • Demolition of an extension link at 86 Carisbrook Road following informal negotiation.

  • Installation of a lawn and planting of a natural hedgerow at 72B Havelock Road, Wimbledon, to comply with planning permission.