Merton is set to gain a major new sports hall as the borough races to keep pace with a sharp rise in demand for community fitness and leisure facilities. Plans backed by local leaders will see a multi-purpose venue built to ease pressure on existing sports centres, which have reported soaring usage in the wake of population growth and renewed interest in grassroots activity. The project, revealed by MyLondon, is being billed as a key step in tackling waiting lists for court time, improving access for schools and clubs, and giving residents more chances to get active close to home.
Planning the new Merton sports hall How location design and capacity aim to tackle the demand surge
The council’s blueprint places the new facility at the heart of existing transport arteries, within walking distance of major bus routes and a short cycle from local schools and colleges. Urban planners have overlaid participation heatmaps with demographic data to pinpoint a site where the hall can soak up pressure from oversubscribed clubs and casual users alike. Surrounding green space will double as spill‑over training areas and community zones, while proposed bike hubs and safe, lit walkways are intended to make evening sessions more accessible. To avoid the “dead space” problem seen in older venues, architects have opted for flexible sightlines and retractable seating that can switch from school PE use in the morning to league fixtures and community events by night.
At the core of the design brief is capacity: not only how many people can fit inside, but how many different activities can run in parallel without clashes. The hall will be underpinned by a multi‑court layout, modular rooms and smart booking systems, all geared towards stretching every square meter.
- Four full-size multipurpose courts with adjustable markings
- Dedicated strength and conditioning zone for club training
- Acoustic zoning to separate noisy team sports from quieter sessions
- Tiered access pricing to prioritise schools, youth clubs and disability sport
| Time Slot | Planned Use | Approx. Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 06:30-09:00 | Community fitness & before-school clubs | 120-150 users |
| 09:00-16:00 | School PE, curriculum sport & coaching | 200+ pupils in rotation |
| 16:00-19:30 | Junior leagues, training & inclusive sessions | 160-200 users |
| 19:30-22:30 | Adult leagues, clubs & informal bookings | 180-220 users |
Community impact What the new venue means for local clubs schools and grassroots sport
The arrival of the new facility is set to reshape everyday sport in Merton, giving local clubs and school teams access to bookable, weather-proof space at peak times – something many have struggled to secure for years. PE departments that currently juggle timetables around cramped halls or shared playgrounds will be able to run simultaneous lessons, specialist coaching and inter-school fixtures under one roof. For grassroots organisations, from junior basketball clubs to walking netball groups, the venue promises affordable hire rates and a central hub where volunteers, parents and young players can train without travelling across the borough.
Community groups are already mapping out how they could expand programmes once the doors open. Coaches talk about earlier after-school sessions for younger children, later slots for working adults, and a safe, inclusive environment for people returning to exercise after injury or long breaks. Among the priorities being discussed are:
- School access during curriculum hours and after-school clubs
- Ring-fenced time for grassroots teams and disability sport
- Low-cost community sessions targeting girls’ and women’s participation
- Open drop-in courts at weekends for informal play
| Group | Typical Use | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Primary schools | PE,multi-sport festivals | More space,safer indoor play |
| Local clubs | Training,league fixtures | Regular,reliable bookings |
| Grassroots groups | Community sessions | Affordable,central venue |
Funding timelines and transparency Key milestones residents should watch as the project moves forward
The council has outlined a phased schedule designed to show residents exactly when decisions,spending and visible progress will occur. Key dates will include the initial funding approval in committee, the publication of the full business case, and the point at which construction contracts are signed and made public. Throughout each phase, residents will be able to track the flow of money and commitments through open council reports and dedicated web updates, while local clubs and community groups will receive targeted briefings on how the budget affects access, pricing and programming. To help keep expectations realistic, officials say they will publish both best-case and fallback timelines, especially for planning approval and procurement, where delays are most common.
Residents are being urged to look out for specific trigger points that indicate whether the project is on track or drifting off course. These include:
- Release of detailed cost breakdowns – showing construction, fit-out, and ongoing running costs.
- Confirmation of external grants or partner funding – critical to limiting the burden on local taxpayers.
- Publication of construction start and handover dates – with updates when any slippage occurs.
- Formal reviews after each phase – where councillors must explain overruns or design changes in public.
| Stage | Expected Window | What Residents See |
|---|---|---|
| Funding Approval | Spring 2025 | Cabinet report, budget vote |
| Planning Decision | Summer 2025 | Planning committee, public documents |
| Main Contract Award | Autumn 2025 | Named builder, contract value published |
| Construction Start | Winter 2025/26 | Site works, monthly progress updates |
| Opening & Review | Early 2027 | Operational report, usage and cost data |
Maximising public benefit Recommendations to ensure fair access affordable pricing and long term sustainability
The new facility offers Merton a rare opportunity to hard-wire fairness into its day‑to‑day operations, rather than treating it as an add‑on. Local campaigners and council officers are already exploring a tiered pricing framework that shields low‑income families from market‑rate charges while still generating enough revenue to keep the doors open. Proposals on the table include means‑tested membership bands, capped peak‑time fees for young people, and a fixed proportion of weekly slots ring‑fenced for schools, disability sports and walking‑sport groups. Operators are also being urged to publish annual usage and pricing data, allowing residents to see who is using the hall, when, and at what cost – a level of transparency more frequently enough associated with transport and energy providers than with community gyms.
Behind the scenes, planners say the real test will be whether the hall can sustain itself financially without drifting towards exclusive, premium‑only services. To prevent that,stakeholders are pressing for a long‑term governance model that blends council oversight with community depiction on the board,giving local clubs and charities a formal say in how space is allocated. Key recommendations emerging from early consultation include:
- Community‑first booking policy – prioritising local clubs, schools and grassroots leagues over private corporate hire.
- Clear subsidy model – clearly showing how higher‑priced adult leagues help fund free or discounted youth and disability sessions.
- Built‑in review points – scheduled assessments of pricing and access every two years,with public consultation.
- Green operating standards – energy‑efficient design to cut long‑term costs and keep user fees stable.
| User Group | Suggested Discount | Priority Access |
|---|---|---|
| Local schools | Up to 70% | Weekday mornings |
| Youth clubs (under 18) | 50% | After‑school slots |
| Disability sport groups | 60% | Custom, quiet sessions |
| Community leagues | 25% | Evenings and weekends |
Key Takeaways
As Merton prepares to break ground on its new sports hall, the project stands as both a response to immediate pressure on local facilities and a statement of longer-term ambition. For a borough grappling with growing participation in grassroots sport, limited training slots and overstretched venues, the development offers a rare chance to reset the playing field.
Questions remain over timelines,funding certainty and how far the design will future‑proof the site against yet more demand. But if delivered as promised, the hall could become a focal point for clubs, schools and casual users alike – and a test case for how London’s outer boroughs adapt to a renewed appetite for community sport.
What happens in Merton over the coming months will be watched closely: not just by local athletes waiting for a place to play, but by other London councils weighing up whether they, too, can afford not to invest.
