H MITCHAM

H MITCHAM CENTRES (mixed use) VILLA / SPACIOUS CUL-DE-SAC BIG BOX RETAIL SUBURBAN MANSION BLOCK

INDUSTRY COTTAGE ESTATE LINEAR BLOCKS

INSTITUTIONS URBAN TERRACE GREEN SPACE

PARADES QUARTER HOUSE INFRASTRUCTURE H.1 INTRODUCTION CORRIDORS MODERN URBAN

A graphic to illustrate the dominant types of development within the area. Mitcham is one of the areas within the borough which has the greatest mix of typologies. Large amounts of green space (35% of the area) and suburban housing (25%) of the area are the most prevalent. Mitcham means 'big settlement'. It's big in the sense that it grew as two parts - Upper and Lower, which formed on the low-lying plains by the river, centred on two village greens. It's also big in that it has played a significant role for Merton over the years - the area's lavender fields and soothing air attracted residents to settle in this part of the borough before industrialisation took off. Mitcham's identity transformed in the 18th century from a rural retreat into a industrial powerhouse, first as a Calico cloth printing centre, and later a manufacturing hub, with companies producing a range of products into the 20th century, from Transport confectionary to fireworks to paint. Housing expansion 10.0 transformed the character of the borough in the intewar 9.0 years, and again after the war with the emergence of 8.0 low density mid-rise blocks like at and Safety Environment Eastfields. More recently, Mitcham is leading the way 7.0 in providing new, award-winning sustainable forms 6.0 of development, like at Brenley Park and along Rowan A plan illustrating the neighbourhoods within the area 5.0 Road. 4.0 The Mitcham sub-area is divided into 10 3.0 community uses like the Rowan Road and Oakleigh neighbourhoods. The areas share a consistent scale but 2.0 are diverse in their built form and character. Mitcham's Way recreation grounds, Mitcham tennis courts and dominant typology is suburban housing with historic the BMX track, are often unassuming and tucked 1.0 fragments interwoven in, including pockets of Victorian away behind suburban streets but are vital spaces for Traffic & parking 0.0 Housing terraces, shopping parades and old industrial buildings. Mitcham and its residents. Mitcham Town Centre is its main commercial centre, although places outside of the borough like , The area faces its own distinct challenges. Parts of and play an important role for Mitcham are far more deprived and disconnected than shopping and other services. The area is characterised elsewhere in the borough, with poor public transport by a string of green spaces, from Figges Marsh in access to the town centre and other neighbourhoods. the north, to the historic Upper and Lower Greens in A key part of the strategy for Mitcham is about the centre, and Wandle Valley to the south. Mitcham strengthening the role of local neighbourhoods, and Common and its edge has its own unique character to improving connections between these and Mitcham Streets & spaces Economy the southeast. Adjacent to the common is The Willow town centre. Lane Trading Estate, a significant piece of industry for the borough.

It's easy for Mitcham's 'big pieces' to steal the limelight, Amenities & facilities but just as important to Mitcham's identity are the "Lots of green space, kind 2 Church Road 2 Cricket Green 2 Eastfields 2 Figges Marsh 2 Mitcham smaller, more hidden 'yokey' spaces in the borough, and and humble community, 2 Mitcham Common 2 Pollards Hill 2 Rowan Road 2 Streatham Road 2 Mitcham Bridge the diverse communities that value them. Leisure and period buildings and Over 400 people responded to the survey for the Character Study. The graphic below illustrates the average of how satisfied residents were with the particular features, localised shopping" theme in their area.

82 MERTON CHARACTER STUDY Consultation draft February 2021 83 MITCHAM What you said was What you said was special special Close community feel, Easy commute to work, small green spaces, small shops and historic heritage, diverse features, diverse, green community, zone 3 spaces everywhere, location village feeling of the town centre

FIGGES MARSH MITCHAM Distinctiveness - heritage and key features Distinctiveness - heritage and key features • Centred on Figges Marsh, a historic triangular green • Historic mixed use town centre, focused on Upper space, and London Road, a busy movement corridor Green with tight urban development surrounding it • Victorian and Edwardian 3-4 storey gabled terraces which still retains the typical medieval form of narrow with shops by station including locally listed terrace house plots on north and eastern side of the Green • Later infill along London Road • Diverse range of building heights and styles • Rest of area predominantly residential - late Victorian / • Looser development along the key routes with a Edwardian terraces, 1930s housing and 1990s cul-de- fragmented character - mainly retail interspersed with sac community uses • London Road cemetery also an important green space • West of London Road - large industrial / commercial and landmark footprints and more residential to the east of the area • Mature trees important landscape asset (1930s short terraces and blocks of six-storey flats) • London Road runs north-south through the area and key issues / opportunities A236 intersects - both busy movement corridors • Fragmentation of character due to poor quality infill • Gasholder a key landmark along London Road • Traffic dominance and poor pedestrian environment key issues / opportunities along London Road • Original focus of the Upper Green has been lost to some • Few trees, loss of green verges extent • Loss of original features / poorly maintained commercial • Poor shopfront quality buildings • Car dominated along the key corridors - poor pedestrian • In residential streets, poor paving / road quality, poor environment in places boundary treatments and loss of front gardens • Pedestrian and cycling links to residential areas poor • Poor alterations / extensions in places • Infill development e.g. housing above shops, • Strengthen western edge of London Road and create underutilised sites to reinforce area ‘green spine’ - tree planting, landscaping, reduce traffic • Improve connections to wider area dominance • Public realm enhancements - create green spine and • Opportunities around Myrna Close car park area and enhance gateways • Opportunity to improve the market

84 MERTON CHARACTER STUDY Consultation draft February 2021 85 What you said was MITCHAM special What you said was What you said was Great public transport + special special access to London, friendly Trees and grassy areas, Green spaces, quaint neighbours, growing What you said was special polite and welcoming houses, long-standing community feel, close to The library and community people, historical, sense of neighbours and sense of Tooting, grid street layout centre make Pollards Hill special community belonging, places to play and have fun

STREATHAM ROAD EASTFIELDS ROWAN ROAD POLLARDS HILL Distinctiveness - heritage and key features Distinctiveness - heritage and key features Distinctiveness - heritage and key features Distinctiveness - heritage and key features • Mainly residential area with Streatham Road forming the • Railway line forms western boundary, Eastfields Station • Bounded by cemetery, Northborough / Manor roads to • Developed from 1930s, formerly farmland and Pollards main throroughfare through the neighbourhood a major gateway east with Rowan Road running through the middle Hill Wood • Large shopping parade along Streatham Road and • Used to be an area known as East or Common fields, • Mainly residential area with interwar low rise terraced • Open grain of the post war Pollards Hill housing estate housing further south used for the cultivation of herbs, roses and lavender streets to north - high density low rise scheme of 3 storey • 1930s tight terraced streets to the east of Streatham • Mitcham Great Wood used to occupy the site of the • Small pockets of light industrial houses and flats zigzagging around edge of large open Road up to railway line in contrast with more fragmented Streatham Park Cemetery • More recent award-winning sustainable development space and community uses housing typologies on its western side • Predominantly residential character - mix of tight on Rowan Road with homes, community facilities and • Rest of area characterised by cohesive rows of interwar • To west - mix of late Victorian / Edwardian terraces and Victorian terraces, 1930s semi detached suburban park suburban houses with front and back gardens interwar cottage-style housing along curved streets housing (some art-deco style), post-war cul-de-sacs and • Rowan Road key movement corridor in this part of the • Southwest of neighbourhood radiates out from central • 1980s/1990s cul-de-sacs contrast with the consistent low free form blocks and contemporary development like at borough roundabout with interconnecting streets between rise character Brenley Park • Pollards Hill and Sherwood Park recreation grounds are • Mitcham Industrial Estate - large industrial / big box • 1960s Eastfields Estate has distinctive layout from the key issues / opportunities green spaces retail footprint off Streatham Road surrounding built form • Can feel like a 'backland' area • Trees and front gardens key feature to be celebrated • North East Mitcham Community Association and green • Spacious, quiet and suburban character with curving • Rowan Road a busy thoroughfare - car and traffic space a key asset street layout and high proportion of green open spaces dominated key issues / opportunities • Poor public realm in places e.g. uneven pavements / • Can feel like a 'backland' area key issues / opportunities key issues / opportunities sparse planting - tree planting and improving public • Poor public transport accessibility • Streatham Road a busy thoroughfare - traffic dominated • Poor public realm in places e.g. uneven pavements realm • Lack of tree planting in places • Poor public realm in places e.g. uneven pavements / / sparse planting - opportunity to reflect the area’s • Strengthen the role of shopping parades - intensify and • Loss of front gardens to parking and large areas of sparse planting - opportunities for tree planting and history as a horticultural centre improve public realm estate given over to parking upgrades to public realm • Barrier of the railway line to west • Loss of front gardens to parking • Inappropriate alterations to buildings • Potential to strengthen character around key transport • Loss of front gardens to parking • Poor quality public realm in places node of Tooting Overground Station • Strengthen the role of shopping parades - intensify and • Tree planting to celebrate former wooded character of • Strengthen the role of shopping parades (such as improve public realm parts of the area Streatham Road and London Road leading into Tooting) • Eastfields estate regeneration • Improving public transport accessibility and links to intensify and improve public realm away from large Mitcham town centre landscape features to north - future adaptation to climate • Public realm improvements change will need street greening and smaller spaces

86 MERTON CHARACTER STUDY Consultation draft February 2021 87 MITCHAM What you said was special Green space with eco What you said was special What you said was special What you said was possibilities lined by early 20th Green spaces, heritage, cricket Local history and heritage, century housing and community events, houses special green areas, multi- cultural with character, leisure facilities, River Wandle, green community "The open green spaces good walks, good for families spaces, parks, houses and of the common, golf heritage course and field give it a country feel. The demographic is very diverse and people seem to respect each other and are friendly." MITCHAM COMMON CHURCH ROAD CRICKET GREEN MITCHAM BRIDGE Distinctiveness - heritage and key features Distinctiveness - heritage and key features Distinctiveness - heritage and key features Distinctiveness - heritage and key features • Large proportion of area is the historic public open • Formerly industrial use prevalent, now mainly housing • Area centres on the historic Cricket Green (played on as • The Wandle is a key historic waterway shaping the space, comprised of heathland, grassland, woodland, with a varied character early as 1707) and quality of development around it character of this area scrubland and ponds, enclosed and intersected by • Post 1945 council housing to south - large modernist • Mainly residential and institutional - larger plot sizes to • Two halves linked by footpath - large self-contained network of busy roads and railway / tram lines blocks set in open space, 1980s cul de sacs to north southwest and low rise institutional buildings to north industrial land to southeast and enclaves of housing • Undulating topography a key feature and numerous • Early 20th century grid iron terraces to east • Much of the area is within the Mitcham Cricket Green between Wandle and tramline to northwest - mix of panoramic views • Wandle Valley conservation area and listed buildings - Conservation Area - number of listed and locally listed semi-detached interwar housing,1970s freestanding low • Housing and commercial development face the common key green corridor buildings including Mitcham Parish Church, Mitcham rise blocks e.g. Watermeads and 1980s/90s housing to north and southwest • Phipps Bridge Estate a key part - built in 1960s, Court and the Canon House • Open and leafy character of the Wandle, Watermeads • Industrial uses on its edges turn its back on the open redevelopment since • Sense of openness and small scale character - semi Nature Reserve and Ravensbury Park alongside it space and are self-contained • Industrial/business uses off Church Road rural in parts with its green spaces key to its character • Major movement corridors of London Road and Morden • Mitcham Garden Village is a distinct locally listed • Everetts Place - old workers cottages - insight into • Housing varied in scale from blocks of flats to 1930s Road run through part of the area - varied in character - enclave - early 1930s earlier rural character detached housing and small scale Victorian cottages big box units opposite open space and low rise housing • Large Golf Course creating sense of green • Allotments, recreation space and nature conservation • Historic remnants of Wandle’s industrial character - green route - leafy character along western edge key issues / opportunities Wandle Valley Conservation Area covers some of the key issues / opportunities • Heavy traffic along London Road, Church Rd and area • Managing the impact of new development on views key issues / opportunities Madeira Rd from Mitcham Common • Busy traffic corridor that creates east-west disconnect • Pedestrian movement between open spaces hampered key issues / opportunities • Pedestrian access to common impeded by heavy traffic • Permeability hindered in places by the roads • Disconnected within and between neighbourhoods flow and cycling provision poor • Pockets of underutilised space • Sensitive infill opportunities that reinforce historic - tramline to north and green space to south act as • Improve footpaths, crossing points and cycling • Poor wayfinding setting and strengthens key views into the conservation barriers infrastructure around the common • Loss of front gardens area • Lack of local shops • Opportunity to make more of it - to use its historic • Ambiguity between public and private • Reveal significance of Tramway Path • Protect the strategic industrial land and encourage new features to shape leisure and recreation activities • Reduce vehicle dominance of Church Road and • Explore opportunities to bring vacant pubs on Cricket employment uses • Opportunity to strengthen the role and function of strengthen edges Green back into good use • Protect historic industrial buildings Mitcham Junction • Adoption of underutilised space to green space / infill • Strengthen walking and cycling links along the Wandle • Explore provision of food outlet / pop-up coffee van or opportunities • New pedestrian links across Wandle and tramline cafe - good for walkers and encourage the community • Higher quality pedestrian routes to mix a bit more • Tree planting to enhance public realm

"Church Road has plenty of open spaces close by. Steeped in local history and heritage. Multi-cultural community. Community Centre in the heart of the Phipps Bridge Estate. Most high-rise blocks have been removed. Some good schools. Local children's play-park is one of the best in Merton. Good bus and tram links. Deen City Farm is excellent. Some local shops. Lots of larger shops nearby."

88 MERTON CHARACTER STUDY Consultation draft February 2021 89 MITCHAM

proposals / opportunities: baseplan:

Reimagine character Strategic greening and improvements Area Boundary Strategic Landmark

Local Landmark Re-examine character Strategic improvements Town Centre Boundary Regeneration of Eastfields to provide new homes Growth themes Repair character Active travel improvements Conservation Area Road and bring community benefits Local green link improvements Rail Intensifying Mitcham town centre and improving The regeneration of Eastfields Estate will help to Corridor Intensification (major) Green Space create an integrated and sustainable residential Waterway connections to it from nearby neighbourhoods Improving connection to park Locally Significant Industrial Sites The town centre is one of the most historic parts neighbourhood in the heart of Mitcham that helps to Corridor Intensification (minor) Waterway Link enhance the character of the area. New community Strategic Industrial Locations of Mitcham and is a vibrant and resilient hub of Enhance parade activity. It has some really lovely assets, including its facilities will bring wider benefit to the local Train/Tube/Tram Station Victorian shopping parade and historic green. Post-war community. © Crown copyright [and database rights] (2021) OS ( 100019259. 2021) infill development has filled gaps where the original fabric has been lost, some of which has harmed the Reinforce the character of Lower Mitcham and prevailing character of the area. There are significant Cricket Green opportunities to repair and intensify, including on The architectural an historic qualities of this area underused sites or single storey units where building are protected by conservation area status and new upwards could accommodate new housing. The history, development must be of an exceptional standard and existing scale, grain and massing of the town centre integrated well with its context in order to contribute to should inform a tailored and place-based strategy for its special character. The residential development on the growth which will help Mitcham town centre to be the Cricketers Pub, adjacent to the former Fire Station is a beating heart for the area again. Part of the parcel of good example of this. achieving this is to reduce the impact of the busy road

network and improve walking and cycling connections Strengthening edges and repairing sites along key LONDON ROAD to the town centre from nearby neighbourhoods. corridors The A216, A236 and Church Road are key routes, Establishing London Road as a key corridor in need which in parts have a poor quality street environment of improvement that encourages faster traffic at the expense of street London Road is the main route through the sub- activity and pedestrians. Gaps in the frontage along area and connects a series of green spaces and local these routes provide a good opportunity to repair the centres that help to characterise the area. There is an condition of these routes, alongside improvements opportunity to establish this route as a green spine to walking and cycling infrastructure and greening and intensification corridor that stitches these pieces enhancements, to contribute to an overall more positive pedestrian experience. together through the creation of a network of green WIDE WAY infrastructure, including extensive tree planting and improvements for walking and cycling. Development Celebrating Mitcham’s significant industrial of sites along London Road should help achieve this heritage vision by prioritising a high quality and sustainable As well as its old houses and greens, Mitcham has a environment and by strengthening the edge condition rich industrial heritage which grew around the Wandle. along this corridor. There are still significant pieces of industry which play an important role for Mitcham and London more widely. Employment uses within industrial areas and historic Celebrating the identity and resilience of local MANOR ROAD neighbourhoods industrial buildings should be protected and celebrated, Mitcham's shopping parades and local centres are whilst also allowing employment typologies to evolve by really important, particularly around Rowan Road integrating new types within housing-led development and Pollards Hill which are located a considerable schemes. LONDON ROAD distance from a major town centre. Many are in poor condition with poorly maintained buildings, vacant Backlands and corners intensification at Pollards shops and a low quality public realm. The Covid-19 Hill south government lockdown has given people a renewed There may be opportunities for suburban intensification appreciation for their local corner shop. There is an on the backlands and corner plots within the Pollards opportunity to strengthen the role of local parades Hill south area. A small sites design guide will help through exploiting intensification opportunities (corner inform what development should look like within this sites, upward extensions and redevelopment of single suburban setting to encourage development that is in storey units), shop front improvements and public realm keeping with the existing character. This will set out enhancements, including improved crossings. guidance for the material palette, scale and features to help reinterpret the suburban character for new development.

90 MERTON CHARACTER STUDY Consultation draft February 2021 91