Sutton MP slams developer over B&Q site housing plans

Revised plans for a major housing development on the former B&Q site in Sutton have been met with strong criticism. The proposals, submitted by developer St George West London Limited, seek to increase the height of tower blocks to 28 storeys and reduce the number of affordable homes from 355 to 265.

Accusations of a Broken Deal

Luke Taylor, the Member of Parliament for Sutton and Cheam, has accused the developer of breaking a previous agreement. Mr Taylor stated on social media that a deal had been made but was subsequently broken by the developers. He further told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that St George had "moved the goalposts" since the original plans were approved by Sutton Council in December 2023. Mr Taylor described the changes as "utterly unacceptable" and indicated he had met with the developer in August to discuss the revised proposals. He attributed the developer's ability to alter commitments partly to changes in regional policy and also criticised Sadiq Khan and the Government for lowering affordable housing targets.

The original scheme, approved in December 2023, proposed 1,035 homes. The revised plans aim to increase the total number of homes to 1,184, a rise of 149 units. Despite this increase in overall housing numbers and the proposed height increase of the tallest building from 22 to 28 storeys, the proportion of affordable homes by habitable room would fall from 35 per cent to 24 per cent. The developer states that all 265 affordable homes would be for social rent, an increase from the 217 social rent homes in the approved plans, but other affordable tenures would be reduced by 90 homes.

Green Party Calls for Rejection

The Green Party in Sutton is urging the Liberal Democrat-run council to reject the revised plans for the Sutton Garden Square development. Helen John, Community Advocate for Sutton Green Party, believes the council should hold the developer accountable to the original proposal. Ms John stated that the council must assess the cumulative impact of changes and clarify how the development now differs from what was initially approved. The Green Party is calling for the planning committee to refuse the amendments unless firm guarantees are provided regarding family housing and sustainable infrastructure.

Developer's Rationale

In its planning statement, St George West London Limited cited "severe macroeconomic pressures" as the reason for the proposed changes. These pressures include rising construction costs, shifts in financing and taxation, and additional requirements for stairs and lifts in taller buildings. The developer also noted that the revised plans would retain over 60 per cent of open space, including a 1.1-acre public park, and increase the Community Infrastructure Levy contribution to the council by approximately £3 million.

Next Steps

A spokesperson for Sutton Council confirmed that the decision on the application rests with the members of the planning committee. They are required to review and discuss the application independently, making a decision based solely on the submitted plans. The council is expected to issue a final decision by October 6.