Merton’s ‘once in a generation’ redevelopment of the Canons house and grounds has finished completion, but locals are complaining that “it’s falling short of what it could be.”
The house which has a historic dovecote and pond that dates back to the medieval period has been the subject of a £4.4 million makeover funded by the national lottery.
The project, which started in 2017, officially reached completion on December 31, 2023. However, locals have questioned whether the project is fit for purpose.
The plan for the redevelopment was to transform the historical site into a community space, that could be used by groups and residents alike. would focus on the redevelopment of the house, dovecote, ponds, walled garden, obelisk, play area, and 1920s running track, the grounds are also connected to an adjoining leisure centre, operated by the Better group.
As the redevelopment nears its completion date, a local heritage group has published a list of issues they have concerning the nature of the redevelopment. The Mitcham Cricket Green Community & Heritage Group (MCGCH) has been monitoring the project for the last decade, ensuring it meets its aims.
Speaking to the local democracy reporting service (LDRS), Tony Burton, chair of the MCGCH said: “We had the initial idea of getting lottery investment into the Canons as an investment in the historic buildings but also an investment in the community who can look after it after its complete.”
“It’s owned by the council, so we worked with the council to put in two applications to get over £4 m of lottery funding five years ago. Ever since, we have tried to make sure that the money is well spent.”
“It’s hugely disappointing in lots of ways. While the investment has helped restore the old buildings, it is the lack of understanding of how to strengthen the role of the local community.”
In its list of concerns, the MCGCH includes several accessibility difficulties as well as several basic maintenance and landscaping issues. Burton told the LDRS how access to the site’s public spaces has not been forthcoming for the groups who intend on using them.
Burton said: “Friends of the Canons is the local volunteer group that does a lot to look after the place and it took more than two years to get the tools that it was promised in the project and then another six months to get the key which gave them access to to the tool shed.”
“The basement of the Canons is meant to be used by the community, but even now the project is nearly finished, we’re unsure how the community is going to get access to the basement, how it’s going to be used and who it’s going to be for.”
“The house and cafe are meant to be accessible to the community, but when we’ve tried to get access to them, often the costs involved have been too great. It’s issues like that why it shows that on so many fronts it’s failing to fulfill its potential and it’s falling short of what it could be.”
The basic maintenance issues listed are numerous but include concerns over ruined verges near the running track and early degradation of the newly redesigned obelisk. Burton also told the LDRS of persistent water damage, which threatens the livelihood of one of the site’s listed buildings.
A particular bone of contention for the group is the destruction of the site’s meadows. In their list, the MCGCH states: “Over 40% of the meadows created by the project have subsequently been destroyed by Idverde’s mismanagement of mowing. Officers say resowing is being dealt with but nothing has currently been done, with serious consequences for 2024’s meadows.”
The site contains many listed buildings and is a haven of biodiversity in the largely built surrounding Mitcham area. According to the Canons project development website: After the house and grounds were sold to the council, the house served both the ARP and the Home Guard during the Second World War, while the grounds were dedicated to allotments.”
“In the latter half of the 20th century, the grounds have served as a tree nursery and arboretum, meaning the diversity of trees at The Canons cannot be found elsewhere in the borough of Merton.”
After receiving the funding in 2017, Merton Council spearheaded the project as a way of empowering one of the poorer areas in the borough. While the MCGCH says it appreciates the work and the benefits that the project has brought to the site and community, they are not completely satisfied with Merton’s handling of the project.
Burton said: “To be fair to them Merton council has been responding quite quickly, we think this is because the project is coming to an end and the lottery wants to see these loose ends tied up. However, I wouldn’t say the response has been satisfactory in that a lot of the issues will continue to be issues we think we will now have to deal with for years to come.”
He added: “It’s not that much of what it’s achieved has not been helpful, but you don’t get £4 million pounds invested in a community often. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and it’s falling short.”
A spokesperson for the London Borough of Merton said: “Canon’s House and Grounds is one of the borough’s heritage gems, and we remain committed to completing the finishing touches to the £4.4million restoration project. This includes installing signs designed by a local artist this month on the new nature trail, following a work day with the Friends of the Canons to carry out winter maintenance to the track.
“The community exhibition and meeting space in the basement will be open by March and the pre-loved studio will increase its opening times from three to five days a week. We will also be tendering to find an organisation to run the cafe in the long term, on the basis of it being open seven days a week.
“We have been granted a funding extension until September 2024 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and we have provided a project update to our partner community groups in December. Merton Council will continue to work closely with all the community groups who are a key part of this historic project and liaise with them on the progress of project specifics.
Idverde was approached for comment but failed to respond in time for publication.
