A Planning Application (13/P1802) has been submitted by Next Group plc and Friends Life Ltd to demolish an existing building and construct a 3 level Next Home store at 88 Bushey Road, Raynes Park, SW20 OJH. This is at the corner of Bushey Road and the A3/Beverley Way.

The new development would bring vitality, activity and new employment to a semi-derelict site and improve the urban realm. This is good news. However, in looking at the detail of the planning application it is clear that the proposal has made very minimal assumptions about travel to the site by means other than driving. Most customers are expected to drive and some cycle parking is being provided for customers as well as employees. But, by assuming in excess of 95% of the travellers will drive, the application is encouraging more congestion, pollution and not actively seeking to improve, along with the borough, the local facilities for walkers, cyclists as well as public transport users.

A comment has been submitted to the Borough by Giles Bailey calling for Merton and Next to seek, as part of this application, to improve the walking and cycling facilities along Bushey Road, in the subways at Bushey Road and the A3 and between West Barnes Lane and Bushey Road. Some of these routes are overgrown, have poor sightlines as well as very poor separation between facilities for cyclists and walkers. A major development like the Next Home store is good news for Raynes Park, but should have to try harder to improve local access facilities, support sustainable transport as well as not make local traffic conditions worse.