Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to Merton’s supplementary planning document (SPD) on HMOs. Consultation started on 19 June 2023 and we continued to accept responses until the end of August 2023.
The purpose of this SPD is to set out planning guidance which applies across the whole borough of Merton which guides both planning applications for HMOs and new HMOs that do not require planning permission.
- Draft Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Guidance
- Strategic Environment Assessment statement
The document is intended to ensure that landowners, decision makers, agents, residents and other interested parties can gain further detail on how Merton’s Local Plan policies apply to new HMOs across the whole borough. The guidance helps explain what is likely to be permitted, following submission of a planning application, and also to provide guidance for applications that do not require planning permission. It does not introduce new planning policies.
The SPD sets out development requirements for new HMOs in the whole of Merton covering a number of topics. With the aim of improving HMO standards for future occupiers, existing residents and the local neighbourhood. These include:
- Accessibility
- Vehicle Parking
- Cycle Parking
- Internal layout design standards
- External layout design standards
- Waste storage and provision
- Noise
- Air quality
- Ventilation
- Housing Mix
Responses received
- Ubah C
- Wood D.J
- Alipour
- Hall .D
- Housden M
- Merton Conservatives
- Merton Liberal Democrats
- Michael T
- Natural England
- Online survey responses
- Transport for London
What happens next
Following this consultation and having considered your views, Council officers are considering all the comments received and will make recommendations to councillors during autumn 2023. Once adopted later in 2023, the SPD will become a material consideration when assessing any such future planning application that comes forward.
We are using a range of powers to drive up standards in the private rented sector and specifically HMOs.