L&Q Group and Merton Council Break Ground on 75-Unit Affordable Housing Development in Mitcham

L&Q Group and Merton Council have broken ground on more than 75 new council homes across three sites in south London, marking what the council describes as the first new council housing development in Merton in a generation. The milestone was celebrated at a ceremony held June 4 at Raleigh Gardens in Mitcham, one of three sites comprising the first phase of the programme.

L&Q will serve as project manager and contractor through its in-house build team, delivering the homes in partnership with the council for residents in the borough. The project is supported by a multimillion-pound investment from the Mayor of London's Affordable Homes Programme 2021–2026 and was designed with WW+P Architects.

Three-Site Development Spanning Mitcham and Morden

The first phase of the programme spans three sites. Raleigh Gardens in Mitcham will deliver 36 one- and two-bedroom apartments for social rent, constructed by L&Q's in-house build team with a completion target of 2027. Elm Nursery, also in Mitcham, will add 21 new council homes, while Farm Road in Morden will contribute 18 homes comprising one- and two-bedroom apartments alongside larger units for families.

Eye-catching panels on the hoardings around the Raleigh Gardens development feature real people who live, work, study, or volunteer in Merton, reflecting the diversity of the borough's residents.

Passivhaus Design and Net Zero Targets

All homes across the three sites will be built to Passivhaus principles, incorporating energy-efficient construction intended to reduce space-heating demand and lower residents' energy bills. Merton Council has cited the design approach as a means of progressing toward its net zero carbon targets.

"These homes will provide residents with comfortable, sustainable and energy-efficient places to live for generations to come," said Neil Davis, Delivery Director at L&Q. "This groundbreaking marks the beginning of an exciting project for our in-house build team and the council, contributing to tackling the shortage of homes in Merton."

Return of Direct Council Delivery After Decades

Councillor Andrew Judge, Merton Council's Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development, framed the groundbreaking as a deliberate policy shift. "Merton Council has decided to build council homes for the first time in a generation," he said. "These homes will benefit our whole community by improving the lives of residents, and by increasing the supply of homes in Merton to help to tackle the housing crisis locally."

"We're proud to be working alongside Merton Council to deliver this important programme of new affordable homes," Davis said. "We are very pleased to work in partnership with L&Q and architects WW+P Architects to deliver these homes for local residents," Councillor Judge added. "Everyone deserves a decent place to live — a place they are proud to call home and provides a good quality of life."

The homes are due to be completed in 2027 and will sit within established communities close to local shops and services, which the council said will also provide a boost to nearby businesses.

Sources

L&Q Group — Construction starts on Merton's first new council homes in a generation (June 12, 2026)