Developer chosen to build new council homes in Sutton town centre

Exciting plans to build around 290 new homes in the heart of Sutton town centre have taken a big step forward this week with the announcement of a preferred developer to rebuild Elm Grove estate. 50% of the new homes will be genuinely affordable homes. 

Councillors agreed to appoint Lovell as preferred bidder to redevelop the existing homes -  between Sutton High Street and Throwley Way - at a meeting of the Housing, Economy & Business Committee in July 2024. The new homes will meet high sustainability standards meaning more comfort, energy efficiency, and lower heating bills for residents.

The Elm Grove scheme will be located next to another key council project at Northern Gateway, opposite Asda, which will provide new high-street premises in the historic White Building for Sutton College, the borough’s adult education centre.

Both projects are key parts of the Council’s ambitious plans to transform the town centre. In the past few months, several key projects have started coming to life: the co-working and wellbeing space at Oru Sutton in the old BHS building opened to the public; works have started at the Northern Gateway and 137-145 High Street sites; and the new Throwley Yard cinema launched this summer in the former Chicago’s nightclub.

Elm Grove currently has 73 homes. It 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 bedrooms, 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.  

79% 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 eligible 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 cornerstone of our business, and we are excited to deliver these new, much needed high-quality homes for the people of Sutton.”