Wimbledon and Putney Commons Levy Payers to See 3.22% Increase
Conservators' chair says fundraising bridging gap between income and costs
The Conservators are responsible for Putney and Wimbledon Commons. Picture: WPCC
February 24, 2026
The Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators (WPCC) have confirmed the levy for the 2026/27 financial year will increase for individual households by 3.22%.
The overall levy is rising in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) for the year to September 2025, which stood at 4.503 per cent.
As a result, the maximum levy will rise from £1,666,382 in 2025/26 to £1,741,425 in 2026/27. The uplift of £75,403 will help fund the charity’s conservation and maintenance work across the Commons.
Because of the increase in the number of levy payers, the change means the annual levy for a Band D property will increase from £40.09 to £41.38, an annual rise of £1.29. All existing Council Tax exemptions and benefits apply to the Commons levy, ensuring that households not liable for Council Tax will not be affected.
The levy, which dates back to the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Act of 1871, remains the primary source of funding for the upkeep of the Commons. It is collected as a precept on Council Tax for households within three-quarters of a mile of Wimbledon Common, including Putney Heath, and for properties within the historic Parish of Putney as defined in the 1871 Act.
At a meeting on 3 February 2024, the WPCC Board reaffirmed its earlier decision, made in December 2020, to increase the levy by the maximum permitted amount for five consecutive years.
WPCC chairman Mauro Mattiuzzo said the levy remained essential to the long-term care of the Commons. He noted that rising day-to-day costs were widening the gap between levy income and the actual cost of managing the land. “Income from the levy remains fundamental to our ability to manage and care for the Commons in a sustainable way, ensuring they remain open and welcoming to visitors while continuing to support rich, diverse and nationally rare habitats,” he said. He added that the Conservators were developing additional income streams to support major infrastructure projects, including path repairs, and thanked residents for their continued support through fundraising.
Alongside the levy announcement, WPCC has released the findings of an independent carbon audit, which confirmed that the Commons absorb significantly more carbon than they emit. The audit found that the land stores around 1,800 tonnes more carbon dioxide than it produces, placing the Commons among the stronger-performing comparable sites.
Operational emissions were found to be relatively low, with modest emissions from buildings. The audit provides a robust baseline for future planning and highlights the environmental value of the Commons’ habitats, including their bogs, which play a key role in carbon sequestration.
Work is now underway to integrate the audit’s findings into existing management plans. This includes identifying practical and affordable steps to strengthen carbon-positive performance while ensuring that conservation, heritage and public access remain central to decision-making.
As part of its efforts to reduce operational emissions, WPCC has recently taken delivery of an electric all-terrain vehicle, a change welcomed by many visitors who had encouraged the Conservators to consider electric alternatives.
The WPCC was established under the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Act of 1871. The Commons comprise some 1,140 acres across Wimbledon Common, Putney Heath and Putney Lower Common.
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