Morden’s town centre regeneration project has been in the works for two decades, causing frustration among residents and traders alike
Morden town centre is home to Merton’s Civic Centre offices and the southern terminus of the Northern line(Image: Harrison Galliven)
Merton Council is moving forward with the long-delayed regeneration of Morden town centre after decades of setbacks, as it prepares to begin the search for a developer to lead the project. However, while the new procurement plan marks progress, council timelines suggest the process could take more than a year adding to further delays.
Frustration among Morden residents and traders has been widely reported, with many previously telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the town has suffered as a result of repeated delays. “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 on Crown Lane for 20 years, adding: “People are not stopping here; there is nothing to keep them here.”
Despite its strong Tube and bus links, Morden is widely seen as a place people pass through rather than linger in. One commuter previously told LDRS: “It feels like I’m always waiting to cross the road around here,” pointing to congestion and narrow pavements near the station.
Though the area is often praised for its strong transport connections, some say it lacks attractions that make visitors want to stay longer(Image: Harrison Galliven)
Plans to redevelop Morden town centre with new housing, improved pedestrian spaces, and enhanced retail were first proposed around 20 years ago. However, the project has repeatedly stalled, largely due to the council’s difficulty in securing a private development partner and the failure of previous levelling-up funding bids.
A new procurement strategy, set out in a cabinet report published ahead of next week’s meeting on January 19, aims to overcome this hurdle. Under the plan, the chosen developer would collaborate with the council through a “phased development agreement” to deliver what council officers describe as “a significant regeneration opportunity.”
Plans set out in the report include a living-led, mixed-tenure development with a high proportion of affordable housing, alongside new commercial space, leisure and cultural uses, and a possible new civic centre acting as a “hub of public services.” The council says the aim is to create “a more vibrant, welcoming town centre and neighbourhood which attracts more footfall, businesses and investment.”
The council says developers have already shown interest through a pre-market engagement exercise in autumn 2025, which the report describes as receiving a “positive” response. Participants called the opportunity “attractive,” citing the “strong locational attributes of Morden” and its transport connections.
However, council officers warn that viability testing shows “there is a funding challenge” and that public money is needed upfront to unlock the wider scheme.
As a result, the cabinet wants to approve a £30 million allocation of capital funding – the pot used for the council’s long-term investments – for the project. The council says this money will be used to assist with viability assessments and to enable early land assembly in Morden.
Much of Morden town centre is owned by TfL’s property company, Places for London(Image: Harrison Galliven)
The council acknowledges that assembling the land needed for redevelopment is a complex process and notes that compulsory purchase powers may be required, subject to future approval. This could present additional challenges, as much of Morden is owned by small landlords and by Places for London, Transport for London ’s property company.
If approved next week, the procurement process is expected to launch in spring 2026 and take around a year, with a preferred bidder identified in 2027. In the meantime, the council says it will continue with “meanwhile use” improvements in the town centre.
These improvements focus on the Abbotsbury Road, London Road, and East Yard areas. Projects include adding colourful new business shutters, increased greenery, 11 public art installations, and community events such as the “We Are Merton 60th” street festival.
Plans are also underway for London Festival of Architecture projects, a Station Yard pickleball site, and ongoing support for local businesses through the Morden Business Forum.
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