Wyke Road in Raynes Park has become the latest victim of developers in Merton treating the green environment and social needs with brutal contempt:

• After the recent sale of the land at auction for a whacking £1.2 million, a developer has breached conditions by prematurely felling 24 well-established trees.
• The felled trees will be replaced by just 11 small/medium saplings.
• Concerned residents have been informed that there is no on-site space to create at least 10% Biodiversity Net Gain as mandated by planning legislation, and that the developer will buy Biodiversity Net Gain credits which will see planting take place somewhere outside of the borough.
• One lonely Ash tree remains, designated for felling because 15 Controlled Parking Zone spaces are planned.
• Crucially, none of the homes in this development are affordable.

In 2020 and 2024, Merton Green Party had joined a number of residents in objecting to proposals to build 9 homes on the site in question – a narrow strip right next to the railway line. In both objections, we had drawn attention to the fact that:

• the land in question was a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and part of a Green Corridor;
• the development would result in 37% biodiversity loss, in part because of the removal of 25 well-established trees, including a Category B Lombardy Poplar;
• the proposed design did not complement the iconic Langham Court;
• the proposed number of parking spaces was at odds with the fact that the area has good public transport connections.

We were extremely disappointed when Merton Council granted planning permission in 2020, and quietly passed a revised planning application in 2024. We want new homes to be created in the borough. They are sorely needed. But we do not welcome a development that both fails to provide affordable housing and undermines Merton Council’s Tree Strategy and claim that it is promoting active travel. Let us not forget that:

• There is a well-documented dearth of affordable homes in the UK. For example, there are more than 1.3m households on the waiting list for social homes.
• The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. With an average of only 53% of its biodiversity left, this is below the global average of 75%, placing it in the bottom 10% of countries, and significantly below the 90% average seen as the ‘safe limit’.

We are approaching Merton Council, including the local Councillors, for comment.