First Floor
The Old Boiler House
Morden Hall Park
Morden Hall Road
London SM4 5JD
020 3417 0476
Registered Charity No. 1156639
www.sustainablemerton.org
From: Joyce Pountain, Trustee of Sustainable Merton
To: Planning Department
For the attention of: Sabah Halli
14/P4361, Plough Lane
I am writing regarding the proposed football stadium, retail unit, fitness club and 602 apartments.
We would welcome the return of AFC Wimbledon to playing in Merton adding to the area’s sense of
place and community. If this development does go ahead, it presents an excellent opportunity to put
sustainability at the heart of a major development, making it fit for the 21st century and an asset to
the community.
Therefore we ask that the following features are included to lower the costs for residents and
businesses, build in the right infrastructure for modern living, support sustainable transport and
improve general wellbeing. Designing in these features right from the start mean they don’t cost
much to include and there is a better result.
FEATURES THAT LOWER THE COST OF LIVING
1. Where possible, buildings should be built as a ‘fully insulated box’ to a grade exceeding the
present building code, to ensure minimum costs for heating/cooling. Consider building to
Passivhaus standards as this would mean that central heating/cooing systems are not
needed, thus offsetting any additional building costs and creating more living space.
2. Put solar water heating panels on roof areas to provide hot water.
3. Put solar PV panels on roof areas to generate electricity.
4. Is there a nearby source of free heat? e.g. from industrial processes. If not, consider a low
carbon-fuelled combined heat and power unit to provide electricity and district heating.
5. Appliance sharing e.g. vacuums, washer/dryers, carpet steam cleaner, ladders, outdoor
furniture)
BUILD IN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE
6. Large and state-of-the-art recycling facilities (e.g. recycling chutes in each floor, to send
mixed recycling to a receptacle in basement)
7. Each new building and each separate unit kitted out to facilitate 85% recycling of waste (for
example, built in spaces in all rooms/flats with tubs for all recycling)
8.
Rainwater harvesting from roofs into tanks on upper floors to supply toilets and the
remainder into an underground tank, to ensure future health of trees and shrubs
9. Sustainable Drainage System standards to take account of water quantity, quality and
amenity issues, so that water drainage is managed properly. This is not yet a requirement by
Merton Council but developments should adhere to this standard now.
ENABLE SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
10. Loads of bike storage for building/users. A large number of bike storage/parking facilities –
secure and covered
11. Safe mini-bus/vehicular drop off point
12. Space for car sharing vehicles on a road outside flats, for use of residents and neighbours.
IMPROVING WELLBEING
13. Surround the development with carbon-reducing trees and shrubbery, kept vibrant via a
maintenance contract. Landscape designer employed to plant bird and bee friendly trees
and low-maintenance shrubs
14. Positive space and shelter for outdoor smoking (a civilised area, ideally not right on the main
road; include ash trays – with maintenance contract)
15. Small-scale community space(s) for hire by local people for various community needs, e.g.
toy exchange, toddler groups, support groups etc.
16. Provision of gardens, including community growing areas and a living roof, where feasible.
17. Provision of swift boxes – hollow tiles on high buildings to provide a nesting site for swifts.
(There has been a big decline in swift populations in many areas. Just imagine the delight of
having swifts swooping over the stadium!)
Yours sincerely
Joyce Pountain
Sustainable Merton