Abbey Mills, Merton, London
A 4645 sq m (50,930 sq ft) health & fitness centre, a 132 bedroom hotel, 2 restaurants, an arts and craft market and 288 apartments.
Project
Abbey Mills, Merton, London SW19
The scheme involved the development of some 9.42 acres of brownfield land with high density residential development and a mix of commercial and leisure uses.
Merton Abbey Mills was a major new joint venture development with Quintain Estates & Development PLC comprising of a new 4,645 sq m (50,930 sq ft) health and fitness centre on two levels which was pre-let to Virgin Active, with a 132 bed hotel, pre-let to Scottish and Newcastle, situated above. The project also included two new restaurants, 288 apartments, and refurbishment of the existing arts and crafts Market which was sold for close to £3.4 million to London & Argyll.
Approximately 30% of this site is listed as a scheduled ancient monument. This relates to the 12th Century Merton Priory, an archaeological remain, involving complex negotiations with English Heritage and the Museum of London Archaeological Service. The existing Merton Abbey Mills Art and Craft Centre is also a conservation area, containing two listed buildings. Other site constraints included ground contamination, surface water disposal with flood control considerations and off-site highway issues.
Bennet's Courtyard at Merton Abbey Mills was 'Overall Winner' of the Housing Design Awards 2005 and was also voted 'Best Development by a Medium-Sized Housebuilder'.
"This year we were wowed by one development more than any other for how it reinvented a common form. Apartment blocks are a key part of our housing provision but rarely has one been designed like this. This is an apartment block with a winter garden instead of a corridor. New residents can enjoy space and light in an exceptional environment - and perhaps even each other's company."
Baroness Andrews, Housing Design Awards presentation, July 2005
"Co-operation between the Council and the developers has resulted in an outcome both can be proud of."
Cllr. Philip Jones, Chair of the London Borough of Merton's Planning Committee.