Organisation

Merton Council

83 stories · discussed at 12 council meetings · 4 councils

Merton Council is advancing housing and regeneration plans, and making operational and financial adjustments.

Merton Council is advancing major housing and regeneration plans. In September 2026, the Cabinet approved a £250 million boost for its new homes programme, aiming for 2,500 new homes, including 1,500 affordable ones, by 2036/37. The Cabinet also advanced the Morden Town Centre regeneration programme and adopted a Corporate Landlord Model to manage its property portfolio, centralising ownership and responsibility for 563 freehold titles.

Operationally, in September 2026, the Cabinet approved £235,000 for Community Safety Untidy Land action and £478,000 for ANPR cameras and parking transformation. The council also approved a new procurement approach for corporate and schools cleaning contracts. This follows a 39% surge in formal complaints during 2025/26, partly attributed to AI-generated submissions, as reported in September 2026.

Earlier, in August 2026, the Development and Planning Applications Committee approved a mixed-use development in Mitcham with 249 social rented homes. In July 2026, the Cabinet approved purchasing 125 homes for homeless residents and permanently confirmed an Article 4 Direction requiring planning permission for new Houses in Multiple Occupation in 13 wards. The council faces a projected £9.694 million budget gap by 2027/28.

Key facts

  1. Merton Council's Cabinet approved a £250 million increase in capital funding for its new homes programme in September 2026. Source
  2. Merton Council's Cabinet approved £478,000 for ANPR cameras and parking transformation costs in September 2026. Source
  3. Merton Council's Cabinet approved £235,000 for Community Safety Untidy Land action in September 2026. Source
  4. Merton Council saw a 39% increase in formal complaints during the 2025/26 financial year, logging 1,450 stage 1 complaints. Source 1 Source 2
  5. Merton Council's Development and Planning Applications Committee approved a development with 249 social rented homes in Mitcham in August 2026. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 4

  1. Merton Council Committee Reviews Budget and Business Plan, Identifies £1.3 Million in Potential Savings Merton Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee has reviewed the council's budget and business plan, identifying potential savings and concluding its review without specific... Merton 15 March 2026
  2. Renters' Rights Act impact on Merton housing debated, potential reduction in rental properties feared Merton Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee has discussed the anticipated impact of the Renters' Rights Act on the borough's housing situation, with particular concern over... Merton 15 March 2026
  3. Merton Council targets £1.7m in additional savings to balance budget amid financial pressures Merton Council is facing a significant challenge to balance its budget, requiring an additional £1.744 million in savings to be identified before the February Budget Council... Merton 15 March 2026
  4. Merton Council faces £7m temporary accommodation overspend Merton Council is grappling with a significant financial challenge, projecting an overspend of nearly £7 million on temporary accommodation for the 2024/25 financial year. This... Merton 15 March 2026
  5. Merton Council Launches 'Big Conversation' to Gather Resident Input on Future Priorities Merton Council is embarking on a large-scale consultation to gather feedback from residents and those working in the borough to help shape the future of council services.... Merton 7 December 2025
  6. Merton Council Planning Appeals See Mixed Outcomes for Residents Merton Council's Development and Planning Applications Committee has seen mixed results in recent planning appeals, impacting residents across the borough. The committee... Merton 1 December 2025
  7. Merton Council Increases Planning Enforcement Efforts, Issues Notices for Violations Merton Council is intensifying its efforts to enforce planning regulations, as demonstrated by a recent report summarising current planning enforcement cases. The Development... Merton 1 December 2025
  8. Merton Council Considers Savings in SEND Transport and Adult Social Care to Address Budget Gap Merton Council is exploring potential savings in its budget for the upcoming years, with a focus on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) transport and adult social... Merton 30 November 2025