Revised Plan Revealed For Historic Wimbledon Pub Site

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Further chance to comment on development scheme for landmark site

Latest plans for the White Hart pub site

Plans for a five-storey homes and shops development on a landmark Wimbledon site have been updated again.

Residents have until March 9 to comment on proposals for 56 flats and commercial units on the site of the White Hart pub in Kingston Road.

The site also covers Rutlish Auto Care Centre and Waterfall Garage Services. The pub itself has been empty for eight years.

The amendments to the latest proposals allow for the site to be serviced by 25-foot long vehicles.

Developers Hibernian Development Wimbledon Ltd have updated their planning statement to reflect the changes. Full details can be seen on Merton Council's planning explorer by searching for application number 21/P2565.

Hibernian Development Wimbledon is a company set up in November 2019, with a registered office address based in Hemel Hempstead.

Sole director Michael Patrick Fingleton, aged 39, from Hemel Hempstead, has also been a director of Streatham-based Hibernian Capital since 2010.

Irish-born Mr Fingleton is the son of Michael Fingleton, who is facing court proceedings in Ireland over alleged negligent mismanagement of the Irish Nationwide building society.

It has been alleged the society's losses of six billion Euros between 2008 and 2010 arose from development loans made when Mr Fingleton senior was its CEO, and that he didn't follow its lending rules.

Mr Fingleton junior worked in the London office of the Irish Nationwide building society before its collapse in 2011.

Hibernian Development Wimbledon's plans for the site state: "The White Hart' plan will "deliver 56 much needed new homes for Merton and bring back life to this side of Kingston Road by widening the footpath to four metres and adding new commercial space to include a mix of potential uses from gym or office, café or convenience store.

"Alongside the regeneration of the long derelict pub and improved footpath provision along Kingston Road are proposed improvements to widen the tram path providing a safer and more pleasant route for residents, along with new street trees for the area to increase biodiversity and air quality."

The development, which is close to the Merton Park tram stop, will be car free apart from six proposed blue badge parking bays (five residential and one commercial). It will offer 15 one-bedroom apartments, 35 two-bedroom apartments and six three-bed apartments. There will be 19 affordable homes and 127 cycle spaces.

The latest plans have met with a mixed response from local residents and community groups. Residents of Rutlish Road were particularly concerned about traffic issues, as well as the design and height of the proposed building.

The John Innes Society has written to oppose the scheme on grounds including traffic, the height of the building and the density of the scheme.

The Wimbledon Society has also formally objected, stating issues including the narrowness of the public footways and the height of the proposed buildings.

White Hart history factfile:

• A pub has understood to have been on the site since at least 1700 and possibly even the 17th century.
• The pub gave its name to the Hart Field the other side of Kingston Road.
• In the 1820s it was the venue for the sale of the nearby Lord Nelson's estate in various lots took place.
• The current building dates back to 1958 after the original was bombed during World War II.

The closed White Hart pub

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February 27, 2022