Merton Council has broken ground on more than 75 new affordable homes, the first council-built properties in the borough for a generation. The development, delivered in partnership with housing association L&Q, marks a significant moment for a borough that has not built council homes in decades.
The programme spans three sites. At Raleigh Gardens, L&Q’s in-house build team is constructing 36 new homes for social rent. Elm Nursery in Mitcham will deliver 21 homes, and Farm Road in Morden will add a further 18, made up of one and two-bedroom apartments alongside larger family homes.
All homes are being built to Passivhaus principles, meaning they will be significantly cheaper to heat than standard new builds. The approach is designed to ease cost-of-living pressures for residents while contributing to the council’s net zero carbon targets. The wider programme is supported by investment from the Mayor of London’s Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026.
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Councillor Andrew Judge, Merton Council’s cabinet member for housing and sustainable development, said: “Merton Council has decided to build council homes for the first time in a generation. Everyone deserves a decent place to live – a place they are proud to call home and provides a good quality of life. These homes will benefit our whole community by improving the lives of residents, and by increasing the supply of homes in Merton to help to tackle the housing crisis locally.”
Neil Davis, delivery director at L&Q, said: “We’re proud to be working alongside Merton Council to deliver this important programme of new affordable homes. These homes will provide residents with comfortable, sustainable and energy-efficient places to live for generations to come.”
The homes are sited within established communities, close to shops, transport links and schools, with completion due in 2027.
