Planning Permission in Merton

The London Borough of Merton is one of South West London’s most desirable and well balanced boroughs, combining leafy suburban neighbourhoods, historic conservation areas, and vibrant town centres. From the heritage streets of Wimbledon Village and Merton Park to the family oriented communities of Raynes Park, Colliers Wood, Mitcham, and Wimbledon Chase, the borough offers homeowners excellent opportunities to extend, modernise, and reconfigure their homes. However, Merton also has a structured and sometimes stringent planning framework, meaning proposals must be carefully prepared to meet the council’s expectations around design, neighbour amenity, and character preservation.
Whether you’re planning a rear extension, loft conversion, garage conversion, outbuilding, or internal reconfiguration, Merton requires proposals to be well designed, policy aligned, and sensitive to the borough’s suburban and heritage context.

Understanding Merton’s Planning Environment

Merton is known for its strong emphasis on suburban character, neighbour amenity, and high quality design. The borough contains several conservation areas, including Wimbledon Village, Merton Park, Wilton Crescent, and parts of Mitcham. These areas are protected for their architectural and historic significance, meaning external alterations must preserve or enhance local character. Proposals affecting listed buildings or heritage streetscapes require careful justification and may need heritage statements.
Neighbour amenity is a major consideration in Merton. Extensions must be designed to avoid harming daylight, sunlight, privacy, or the sense of openness enjoyed by neighbouring properties. The council uses clear amenity tests, including the 45 degree and 25 degree rules, to assess the impact of extensions on neighbouring windows and gardens. Even modest proposals may require detailed analysis, especially in terraced or semi detached streets.
Merton is particularly known for its structured approach to rear extensions, loft conversions, and outbuildings. Rear extensions — including wrap arounds and side returns — are common but must respect scale, materials, and the character of the host property. Loft conversions are widely accepted when designed sensitively, with dormers kept subordinate to the main roof. Roof terraces are especially sensitive due to privacy concerns.
Flood risk is a consideration in areas near the River Wandle, Beverley Brook, and parts of Mitcham and Colliers Wood. Properties in these zones may require flood risk assessments or resilient design measures.
Sustainability is another key priority. Merton encourages energy efficient design, sustainable materials, and proposals that reduce carbon impact. This can influence glazing choices, insulation, and the overall design approach.

What SMARTePLANS Provides

SMARTePLANS offers a comprehensive planning service tailored to Merton’s clear but detail oriented planning environment. Our expertise ensures your proposal is robust, policy aligned, and positioned for approval.
• Detailed Planning Drawings
We produce precise architectural drawings for extensions, loft conversions, internal alterations, and façade changes. Our designs respect Merton’s character while maximising your space.
• 3D Laser Surveys & Modelling
Accurate measurement is essential for high quality design. Our 3D surveys capture every detail, enabling us to produce highly accurate plans and visualisations.
• Design & Access Statements
We prepare clear, persuasive statements that explain the design rationale, demonstrate policy compliance, and address Merton’s key concerns.
• Heritage & Conservation Expertise
For properties in conservation areas or listed buildings, we prepare sensitive, policy compliant designs supported by heritage statements where necessary.
• Daylight/Sunlight Analysis
Where required, we arrange specialist assessments to support your application and address neighbour amenity considerations.
• Flood Risk & Environmental Documentation
For properties near rivers or low lying areas, we coordinate flood risk assessments and resilient design measures.
• Planning Agent Representation
We manage the entire process — liaising with planning officers, responding to queries, and ensuring your application is complete and professionally presented.

Key Local Planning Considerations in Merton

1. Conservation Areas
Proposals must preserve or enhance local character, affecting:
• Rooflines
• Windows and doors
• Materials
• Extensions
• Boundary treatments
2. Neighbour Amenity
Extensions must demonstrate minimal impact on:
• Daylight
• Sunlight
• Privacy
• Sense of enclosure
3. Loft Conversions & Roof Alterations
Dormers must be modest, well integrated, and subordinate to the main roof. Roof terraces are often restricted.
4. Flood Risk
Properties near the River Wandle or Beverley Brook may require flood risk assessments.
5. Outbuildings & Garden Structures
Outbuildings must remain subordinate and not dominate the garden.

Why Choose SMARTePLANS for Merton Applications

SMARTePLANS has extensive experience working within Merton’s planning framework. Our 99% approval rate reflects our commitment to policy led design, meticulous preparation, and proactive communication with planning officers

Homeowners choose us because:

• We understand Merton’s unique suburban and heritage constraints
• We produce high quality, policy aligned designs
• We manage the entire process from survey to submission
• We specialise in extensions, loft conversions, and conservation sensitive proposals
• We deliver fast turnaround times without compromising quality
Whether you’re planning an extension, loft conversion, internal reconfiguration, or a more complex redevelopment, we ensure your application is robust, compliant, and positioned for approval.

Start Your Merton Planning Application Today

SMARTePLANS offers a free, no obligation quote and expert guidance tailored to your property. Our team handles everything — from surveys to submission — so you can move forward with confidence.