Access Self Storage, which operates more than 50 facilities in the United Kingdom, has proposed a mixed-use development on land it owns in the London borough of Merton. The property is the former home to a Manuplastics factory, which would be demolished. The project would include 103 homes, office space, 34 parking spaces and spots for 193 bicycles, according to the source. Access believes the project would provide 110 jobs.
Previous development applications for the Dundonald Ward property have been rejected, including a five-story self-storage project Access proposed in 2009. The mixed-use plan appears to be viewed favorably among residents and some city officials, the source reported.
“Dundonald councillors have been working with residents and the applicant for a number of years. We have not been entirely happy with any proposals to date, but this seems to be getting traction with council officers,” councilmember David Dean told the source. "We will continue to work hard to ensure residents get what is required for the local area.”
Access indicated it’s pleased with the initial reaction to the plan. “We carried out local community consultation and held a public meeting on these proposals. We were pleased to receive a lot of positive feedback from residents and businesses who felt that the mixed-use regeneration of the site was timely,” an Access spokesperson told the source.
The project has been designed to fit in aesthetically with the area. It doesn’t appear to have a self-storage component, based on the report. “We were careful to come up with a scheme that is high-quality and sympathetic to area,” the spokesperson said. “Once developed, we feel that the proposals will be a very attractive enhancement to the locality, bringing excellence in design to a vacant site.”
The public may submit comments on the proposal until Sept. 6.
Founded more than 20 years ago, Access Self Storage facilities offer virtual office services, parking, document management and mailboxes in addition to self-storage. The company’s properties are concentrated in Greater London.
