Bellway to invest £1.32m in local sports facilities as part of new Raynes Park development

Description automatically generated Bellway South London is to deliver new tennis courts, a multi-use games area, a five-a-side football pitch, and an additional investment of £1.32m in local sports facilities, as part of a new housing development in Raynes Park.

The funding and new facilities will be provided through the planning agreement for Bellway’s Cavendish Grove, a 107-home scheme which is to be built on the former London Electricity Sports and Social Association site, known as LESSA, off Meadowview Road.

The agreement was signed by Bellway and Merton Council on Tuesday 10 October, securing planning permission for the development which the local authority’s planning committee had resolved to grant – subject to the agreement being finalised – in September last year.

Raynes Park Residents’ Lawn Tennis Club, which is opposite the site, will benefit from the two new floodlit all-weather tennis courts, parking and storage, as well as £90,000 to upgrade its existing courts.

On top of this, Bellway will provide an off-site sports contribution of £1.23m, including £1.1m for Joseph Hood Recreation Ground, £100,000 for improvements at Old Wimbledonians RFC and £30,000 for girls’ rugby.

Rob Sapsford, Managing Director of Bellway South London, said: “Access to local sporting facilities and groups plays a vital role in helping people to keep fit, take part in healthy activities, socialise on a regular basis and build friendships. Those opportunities have been somewhat reduced since LESSA closed its doors in 2000 and this major investment seeks to address that situation.

“As part of our planning agreement for Cavendish Grove, we are committed to providing a mix of public open space and sporting facilities within the development itself, as well as funding improvements at sporting clubs and venues across the wider borough. Our commitment to the local community also extends to providing apprenticeships and work placements during the course of construction work at the development.”

At Cavendish Grove, Bellway South London is to build 63 homes for private sale, consisting of one and two-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses. The housebuilder will also deliver 44 affordable homes for local people. These will feature a mix of apartments and houses, with 27 properties allocated as low-cost rent and 17 as shared ownership.

Daniel said: “This is a sustainable development that will provide a wide range of high-quality new homes to meet the needs of local buyers. As well as increasing the supply of private housing in the area, Cavendish Grove will also make an important contribution to the borough’s affordable housing stock, as more than 40 per cent of the homes at the development will be made available for low-cost rent or shared ownership.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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