At the end of August, Edwards Planning Consultancy submitted a planning application to Sutton Council to convert the former bank on Woodcote Road into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) for seven people.
The branch, which closed in June 2023, has stood partly vacant since then, with the ground and first floors empty and the second floor already in residential use.
Several applications have been submitted for the property over the past year, including one from McDonald’s last summer, but none have been taken forward.
The applicant argues that converting the space into housing would make more efficient use of the underused building and contribute to meeting local demand for affordable accommodation.
Plans set out five bedrooms with en-suite facilities, designed to accommodate seven residents in total.
Two communal kitchens would also be provided.
To facilitate the conversion, a metal staircase and rear door would be removed and replaced by a window, while an existing window would be adapted into a door to give access to new bin and cycle storage at the back of the building.
No car parking spaces are proposed, but cycle storage for eight bikes would be created.
The application highlights that the site sits close to Wallington train station, with regular bus services nearby, and benefits from a PTAL (public transport access level) rating of 4, meaning good access to public transport.
It is also within walking distance of open spaces such as Carshalton Park, Mellows Park and Beddington Park, as well as being in Wallington’s District Centre with its mix of retail, leisure, business and educational facilities.
No statements of support or objections have been submitted.
Wallington resident Malcolm Flegg was torn.
In his submitted public comment, he said: “I don’t object in principle to flats being created above empty space in high street locations.
“However, as with many applications in Wallington and across the borough, too many units are being shoehorned into the space.
“This results in a poor standard of living accommodation, with what appears to be shared kitchens for up to seven people.
“Two or three well-designed units would be more appropriate in this situation.
“I would also ask what accommodation currently exists above the property, and if they are flats, how many?”
Anyone can submit their stances to Sutton Council on the planning portal website until September 23.
Sutton Council will make a decision no later than October 21.
