An application to build an apartment block on the former Windmill Trading Estate in Mitcham has been rejected by Merton Council.

The proposal for the site, at the junction of Windmill Road and Commonside East, near Mitcham Common, was for a five-storey building of 23 flats.

At a planning committee meeting on Thursday, May 23, Councillor Richard Williams, ward representative for Pollards Hill, argued for the application to be thrown out.

He said the proposal did not create employment opportunities or affordable housing and argued the scale and design of the development was inappropriate for the area.

Following the decision, Coun Williams said: "I'm delighted that, despite the recommendation from planning officers for approval, the planning application was rejected.

"This is of course not the end of the road. The developer might choose to seek to have the decision overturned at appeal.

"Hopefully though we might see them open discussions with the community about what would be appropriate development on the site."

Melanie Nunzet, from Friends of Mitcham Common, said the area does not need any more housing as local amenities could not cope with an influx of new residents.

She said: "Those views of beautiful green spaces will be lost if more housing is built. We don’t need any more.

"We just do not see that facilities are being increased to cope with all the people."

Planning permission was granted in 2007 for the redevelopment of the estate and the land was sold to Notting Hill Housing Association.

Part of the site has already been developing into housing called The Meadows.