Merton Breakfast with Cllr Ross Garrod
SP Broadway was delighted to welcome Cllr Ross Garrod, Leader of Merton Council, as the guest speaker for our latest online Politics of Planning roundtable.
Attendees from Stantec, Berkeley, Countryside Partnerships, Rolfe Judd and others contributed to the discussion covering Cllr Garrod’s aim to make Merton the London Borough for Sport, the development of 400 new council homes by 2026, and the regeneration of Merton’s town centres.
Cllr Garrod gave an in-depth overview of the planning system in Merton, making note of the high percentage of planning committee decisions that align with the planning officer’s recommendations. Cllr Garrod led a discussion on the need for accessibility and dialogue in the planning system for developers and, while he believed it was effective, he wanted further resourcing to make it better. He also discussed the ways in which Merton was working with the GLA, especially Deputy Mayor Tom Copley, to deliver affordable housing and stated there was a growing need to combat misinformation in the planning industry.
Our thanks to Cllr Garrod and guests for attending and contributing to such an interesting discussion. Our next online event is with Clive Betts, Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee, on Tuesday 19th March.
If you would like to attend any of our forthcoming events, please email edward@spbroadway.com.
