Up to 300 new homes are set to be built across Sutton town centre after a developer was chosen for the project.

In July, Sutton Council’s Housing, Economy and Business Committee appointed Lovell as its preferred developer to rebuild the Elm Grove estate, known as the Elm Grove Scheme.

The plan is to build 290 new homes in Sutton town centre, where half of the homes will be affordable.

Councillors agreed to appoint Lovell as the preferred bidder to redevelop the existing homes between Sutton High Street and Throwley Way.

The new homes will be built to be eco-friendly, making them more comfortable to live in, using less energy, and reducing heating costs for the people who live there.

The Elm Grove project will be near another council project at Northern Gateway, across from Asda.

This project will create new shops in the White Building for Sutton College, the adult education centre in the borough.

Elm Grove currently has 73 homes and was built in the 1970s and residents have had long-standing issues with anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping, the lack of lifts and green space, as well as overcrowding.

The new housing development will include: 

  • High-quality, affordable homes in a sustainable, mixed-tenure community
  • Around 290 new homes for existing and new residents across a range of unit sizes, including 1 bedroom, 2 bedrooms and 3 bedrooms. 
  • Private external space - a balcony or garden - and access to new communal courtyards and play space for residents only. 
  • Public realm improvements, as well as more trees, lighting and planting in Elm Grove.
  • New routes for local residents connecting the High Street and Throwley Way.  

A total of 79 per cent of residents voted in favour of the plans to redevelop Elm Grove in March 2022 and works are scheduled to start in May 2025.

All existing residents choosing to stay on the estate will be offered a new home.

Councillor Jake Short, Chair of Sutton’s Housing, Economy and Business Committee, said: “This is a really exciting step forward in the council’s plans to build new quality and affordable homes for our residents in the heart of Sutton town centre, and tackle the housing crisis.

“Our new council homes across the borough have already been recognised for their high design and environmental standards.

“The selection of an experienced development partner means our goal to deliver incredible homes and open spaces for Elm Grove residents can now move to the next stage.

“We have been driven by what Elm Grove residents want their future homes to look like and now this vision is set to become a reality with construction works currently scheduled to start early summer 2025.”

Mick Laws, Regional Managing Director of Lovell London, said: “We are delighted to have been selected by London Borough of Sutton to work with them on this significant town centre project.

“Regeneration and partnerships are the cornerstones of our business, and we are excited to deliver these new, much-needed high-quality homes for the people of Sutton.” 

Sutton Council’s planning committee will discuss the plans further next Wednesday (September 4) during which objections will be raised.