Work on the regeneration of Morden could start as soon as 2021 and would see more than 2,000 homes built in the area.

An update was given by Cllr Martin Whelton, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Housing and Transport to councillors.

He said: “We are moving ahead with the next stages in the regeneration of Morden and the delivery of more than 2,000 new homes alongside a transformation of the town centre which will see public realm improvements.

“We will also see the selection of a preferred development partner in the spring of 2020.

“I know people ask why hasn’t work started already and what is happening?  My response is that it’s an incredibly complex project involving TfL and dozens of different landowners who we will have to work with and may require compulsory purchase.”

He added that he is confident work will start on the project in 2021.

Speaking after the meeting, council leader Cllr Stephen Alambritis said in the next two years the council will be working with residents.

“We want to talk to residents, we want to talk to Love Morden and we want to have a steering committee of those interesting in Morden,” said Cllr Alambritis.

“We want to look at the London Plan so it ties in nicely with regenerating Morden town centre.

“Our local plan and the Mayor’s plan both have to say that Morden is a housing zone, it deserves regeneration and can have more housing uses.”

He said that residents will be consulted on what balance of housing units and shops there could be and he would not want to see the gentrification of the area.

The council leader said: “This has been talked about for a long time but the market is right, we believe.

“We believe the end of the line areas are going to be popular, you’re guaranteed a seat into central London.

“But what we don’t want to do is to push people out of Morden, to push the shops out of Morden – what they call gentrify – so we get a lot of influx of people coming.

“40-50 per cent of the housing units we want to be affordable and we will be working with housing associations.

“What I’d also like to see as we market the development is that local people get first dibs so it is marketed locally first, not internationally.”