A community group is celebrating the sixth rejection of plans to re-develop the Cricketers pub, after a two and three storey building was unanimously rejected by the council over size and design fears.

There have been six applications in the last six years to re-develop the former pub in Mitcham Cricket Green, but each one has been hit into the long grass.

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The six rejected proposals. Photo: Mitcham Cricket Green Community & Heritage

Planning officers, who make recommendations for Merton Council’s planning committee to vote on, recommended the latest plans to be approved on Monday, May 23.

The plans, submitted by BPTW Partnership on behalf of Chatsworth Land Ltd, proposed to demolish the pub and put up a building that is part two and part three storeys, which would provide 10 homes, car and cycle parking and landscaping.

The derelict pub in London Road sits in the middle of the Mitcham Cricket Green Conservation Area, next to Vestry Hall and the famous cricket ground, and in an Archaeological Priority Zone.

Instead of approving the new plans, councillors voted unanimously to reject them, to the delight of Tony Burton, trustee of the Mitcham Cricket Green Community and Heritage.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Burton said: “The site is very sensitive because it is so prominent. Any development really needs to fit in with the Cricket Green.

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The Cricketers Pub

“The 21st century needs to create a building for the site that will stand the test of time and that we can be proud of, not a second rate, derivative waste of time.

“I don’t think we will ever be complacent. It’s very welcome after the decision on the Kwik Fit development just down the road.

“This was a complete reversal of that, and it’s really encouraging to have councillors think hard about design and development, about raising the bar and the need of a sense of place in Mitcham.”

In January, the council granted planning permission for the former Kwik Fit site in London Road to be developed into 22 flats, car parking and space for shops or offices. A petition signed by 214 people to have the site removed from the Conservation Area was presented to the council in April.

April 6: Over 200 people sign petition to remove Mitcham Cricket Green Conservation Area status from site of controversial Kwik-Fit flats

Speaking at the meeting in Morden, Councillor Andrew Judge warned any new buildings in the conservation area should “always reflect or enhance the local area and contribute to the sense of place and of identity.”

Councillor Peter Southgate agreed, saying: “I don’t think it impacts the conservation area in a way we would like to see.”

Concerns were raised over the size and appearance of the proposed building, with the council’s Design Review Panel giving the design a red score, meaning that it needs to be changed.

The panel’s comments read: “The panel saw the proposal as ‘inoffensive’ but not as good as it could be. The design seemed too muted and deferential and this prevented the architecture from being engaging or expressing a feeling of delight.

“The panel recognised the efforts that the applicant was making but in its final analysis concluded that the proposal did not achieve the design criteria expected for this very important site.”

Chatsworth Land Ltd and BPTW Partnership have been approached for comment.