Wimbledon MP to Meet Housing Minister About 30 Years of Morden Regeneration Delays

• On 3rd March, in Parliament, Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler raised the neglect of Morden town centre by Labour-run Merton Council
   
• Merton Council has failed to deliver on regeneration commitments over 30 years, and last week pushed plans back again until 2028
   
• Paul Kohler MP secured a meeting to discuss what has gone wrong and what support the Government can give.

Speaking in Housing, Communities and Local Government oral questions on 3rd March, Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler stressed that Morden has huge potential given its excellent transport links, but the area has been left to stagnate. Merton Council’s repeated failure to deliver on their commitments mean regeneration is long overdue and urgently needed. 

Among the improvements Merton Council had promised were tackling poor air quality, reducing traffic dominance, and enabling a better setting for retail and businesses.

However, regeneration plans have repeatedly been pushed back over the last three decades. Last week, Labour-run Merton Council announced further delays, with the bulk of the regeneration project now budgeted to take place in 2028/29. 

At last week’s Council budget meeting, Merton Liberal Democrats called for the £4m Morden regeneration project to be fast-tracked from 2028/29 to 2026/27, with accelerated spending to follow. Labour councillors refused to support their proposal. 

In Parliament yesterday, Paul Kohler MP secured a meeting with the Housing Minister Alex Norris to discuss what action can be taken to address the council’s failings. This marks a key step in breaking the cycle of delays and finally delivering the transformation Morden deserves.

Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler said:

“I’m proud to have half of Morden Town Centre in my constituency. Morden is an area ripe for rejuvenation, with fantastic transport links. 

However, like many town centres across the country, it is struggling. 

As one Labour Councillor recently noted in the Council Chamber, despite years of promising to regenerate Morden, Labour-run Merton Council has failed to deliver. Just last week, they again put off doing anything - this time until after 2027.

Will the Minister meet me to discuss why the council has failed to begin rejuvenation over the last 30 years, and to discuss what support the Government can now give?”

Responding, Housing Minister Alex Norris said:

“I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s invitation, which, of course, I will take up. 

The experience that he talks about is not uncommon in the rest of the country; certainly, over the last 14 years, there has been very little progress. 

I know that Merton council, for example, is investing some £300,000 in brightening and refreshing Morden town centre, but I know the council, like the hon. Gentleman, wants to see more done. I will be happy to sit down to talk to him about that.”

Commenting, Morden Liberal Democrat Councillor Jenifer Gould said: 

“For 30 years, Merton Council has failed to deliver the regeneration our community needs. 

Residents and businesses are fed up with waiting. The Liberal Democrats are pushing for urgent action to bring forward investment and unlock Morden’s huge potential—starting now, not in another five years.”