Minor changes to Morden town centre are being made to brighten the place up, but a full regeneration still has no development partner
Residents in Morden have expressed growing frustration after the town centre regeneration project was pushed back once more, with completion now unlikely before the 2040s. Merton Council recently approved a fresh reset of its long-awaited plans, but years of repeated delays have left many locals doubtful that promised improvements will ever materialise.
“If you have the afternoon off, Morden is the last place you would want to be,” said Anil Patel, who has run the Post Office and Londis at 34 Crown Lane for the past 20 years.
“People are not stopping here; there is nothing to keep them here,” he added. While vaunted for its excellent Tube and bus connections, Morden has long been seen as a place to pass through rather than a destination in itself.
Locals and visitors alike feel the area has become overly congested, due to the high level of incoming traffic and the busy one-way system that runs through the centre of the town. One regular commuter told the LDRS: “It feels like I’m always waiting to cross the road around here.”
Much of the town centre is owned by TfL’s property company, Places for London. Its Charles Holden-designed Tube station is the centrepiece, drawing large crowds of commuters every day. However, many believe the space around the station should be made more pedestrian-friendly and a nicer place to linger.
Anil added: “People come out of the station, and then they disappear. I am not saying we should build something like King’s Cross, but I am sure they could make a nice space in front of the station.”
A number of residents and visitors also criticised the lack of variety in Morden’s shops. “We also need more things like proper bakeries,” Anil said. “The council should have more power to decide what kind of places we have here.”
Samuel Thompson, a Morden resident for 30 years, highlighted how narrow pavements near the train station can lead to significant congestion.
“The bus stop by the entrance to the station gets so crowded that it’s hard to get past people. They usually let you through, but more space is definitely needed,” he said.
Others, like Raj Beeharry of Morden Dry Cleaners, which has been opposite Merton Civic Centre for 20 years, feel the congestion is one of the town’s biggest drawbacks. He said: “The transport is great, but there is so much congestion around here. I see people about to fight in the road because it’s that busy.”
For over 20 years, Merton Council has been trying to address these issues with an ambitious town centre regeneration plan. The council itself is based in the imposing Merton Civic Centre, the dominant landmark in Morden town centre.
Regeneration moves forward – sort of
In a recent move, the council announced a reset of its long-awaited regeneration plans, aiming to revitalise the area for residents and local businesses. The proposals include creating a vibrant new neighbourhood, attracting investment, and building quality and affordable homes with the help of a private sector development partner.
However, according to Merton’s Lib Dem opposition, these plans have been seen before and will only delay the regeneration further. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler said: “After more than 20 years of excuses, it’s no wonder there is such deep frustration in Morden.
“Labour is rehashing ancient promises in the hope residents will fall for it. They finally pledged to find a regeneration partner back in 2019, but nothing came of it, and they have left Morden in limbo ever since.”
Anthony Fairclough, Leader of Merton Lib Dems, criticised the council’s handling of the project, also noting that their 2019 plans promised a private development partner and completion by 2029. He warned that the latest proposals are likely to push that timeline further back due to the absence of a committed developer.
“We don’t seem to be any further forward under these plans,” he told the LDRS. “It just feels like a relaunch of the same promises when, in reality, they just need to get on and do something.”
Merton Council’s 2018–19 plans to regenerate Morden, developed in partnership with Transport for London, were put on hold due to the pandemic and TfL’s financial constraints. Since May 2022, the council says it has implemented new leadership and a revised approach to the project.
In another setback, Merton Council’s 2023 bid for £20million from the Department for Levelling Up to support Morden’s redevelopment was rejected. At the time, Council Leader Cllr Ross Garrod criticised the decision, calling it “the Government kicking Merton residents in the teeth”.
The Lib Dems have also criticised the council for failing to attend a key July meeting with Housing Minister Alex Norris MP arranged by Mr Kohler. He claimed that Labour had blocked progress by ignoring the meeting and voting down a proposal to invest £4million from next year’s budget.
The council told the LDRS that it has updated the Government on its plans for Morden town centre. In March 2025, Mr Norris told Parliament he welcomed the progress, and the council says it will keep working with ministers to secure support for the project.
Pickleball and new seating
Merton has acknowledged the long delays and says it shares residents’ frustration. In November last year, Council Leader, Cllr Garrod, described the project as a “slow burner”, but added that the council has invested in what it calls its ‘Meanwhile Action Plan’.
This plan includes smaller, more cosmetic changes to Morden town centre, designed to uplift public spaces. Under these plans, Station Yard behind the Tube station is set to become a flexible pickleball court with seating, greenery and murals.
Further works have taken place on Abbotsbury Road, including better signage, benches and planting. However, many feel these changes do not address the town’s bigger issues.
One of the town’s most pressing concerns is the Peel House car park, a two-storey facility located behind the high street Sainsbury’s. The car park has long provided essential parking for the town centre, but its upper level has been closed for several years due to safety concerns.
The LDRS understands that the council must reach an agreement with the car park’s owner, TfL, before any reconfiguration work can begin. In the meantime, only the lower level remains available for public use, limiting overall capacity.
Unlike nearby Wimbledon, which has a Business Improvement District, Morden relies on a dedicated Town Centre Manager. The role focuses on supporting local businesses, linking entrepreneurs and community groups with landlords of vacant units, and organising events to boost activity in the area.
Cllr Garrod has described the recent town centre reset as an exciting step forward that will attract investment and create new opportunities for residents. Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development Cllr Andrew Judge added that the council plans to work with a private development partner to deliver a modern, affordable neighbourhood with sustainability targets aligned to the council’s net-zero goals.
After approving the regeneration reset at Monday’s Cabinet meeting (September 22), the council has signalled its intent to push ahead with plans for a better Morden. However, without a development partner in place, a fully regenerated town centre remains some way off.
A Merton Council spokesperson said: “We’re ready to drive forward these exciting development plans for Morden town centre, for the benefit of residents and local businesses. We understand that Morden’s regeneration has been talked about for some time but, with a renewed ambition and fresh leadership, we are now in a great position to deliver this transformational programme.
“With Cabinet’s agreement, Merton Council will work with a private sector development partner to realise the vision for Morden, informed by community feedback, to fulfil the area’s huge potential for growth and opportunity. In the meantime, we’re investing this year to brighten and refresh Morden town centre as part of our Meanwhile Action Plan with vibrant new artwork, better seating and lighting, more community events and greenery, and by transforming underused spaces.
“Morden is full of promise, and we are determined to deliver on its development.”
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