SW20 · London Borough of Merton
Builders in Raynes Park
Raynes Park is a neighbourhood of two halves, split by the railway, and the character of your street makes a real difference to what you can build. We have completed loft conversion work in SW20, and the area's mix of Edwardian terraces and inter-war houses suits most of the projects we do.
Homes in Raynes Park
Merton's Borough Character Study notes a stark difference in character north and south of the railway. Victorian and Edwardian streets radiate from the centre, while further south, around Motspur Park, the housing is inter-war and "Metroland" in style, with short terraces of four houses and generous rear gardens. Grand Drive has a row of Arts and Crafts villas opposite St Saviour's Church.
The Edwardian terraces lend themselves to side-return extensions and rear dormer loft conversions. The inter-war houses, with their longer gardens and hipped roofs, are often well suited to rear extensions and hip-to-gable loft conversions.
Planning in Raynes Park
Raynes Park is covered by the London Borough of Merton, although SW20 extends into a small part of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames to the west, so confirm the council for your address. North of the railway there are three conservation areas: Lambton Road, Durham Road and Dunmore Road, each with a character assessment on Merton's conservation areas list. Lambton Road and Dunmore Road also have design guides.
Merton lists no householder Article 4 directions for Raynes Park on its Article 4 page at the time of writing. Outside the conservation areas, many rear extensions and loft conversions can proceed under permitted development, while inside them the rules are tighter and it pays to read the design guide first.
Basements across Merton are governed by Policy D12.11 of the Merton Local Plan (adopted November 2024). It limits a basement under an existing home to a single storey, restricts how far it can extend beyond the original house, and requires a Basement Impact Assessment, a drainage strategy, a construction method statement and a construction traffic management plan with the application. In conservation areas, basements and their lightwells must conserve or enhance the area's character.
Worth knowing locally
- The Dunmore Road conservation area covers 41 houses built around 1907, protected mainly for their elaborate, well-preserved detailing, so any visible change needs to respect it.
- The Lambton Road conservation area is made up of tight-knit terraces with small front gardens on roads such as Trewince, Tolverne, Rosevine, Kenwyn and Pendarves Roads, and the land falls noticeably across it.
- Small front gardens on the older terraces mean deliveries, skips and scaffolding need careful planning with neighbours.
From a client in Raynes Park
“We recently had a loft conversion completed by Janusz, and we are absolutely thrilled with the results. From start to finish, he demonstrated outstanding professionalism, skill, and attention to detail. The quality of his workmanship is top-notch, and it's clear that he takes great pride in what he does. Janusz was reliable and always kept us updated throughout the project, ensuring that everything was completed to a high standard. He was also very easy to communicate with, always willing to listen to our ideas and offer helpful suggestions. The project was completed on time.”
Planning work in Raynes Park?
Share a few details and we will arrange a visit to look at the house and talk it through. There is no obligation.
Or call 07841 206689