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Building Compliance in Merton
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Services in Merton
Testing and Inspection
- Air tightness testing in Merton
On-site testing that measures how much air leaks through a building's envelope, with a certificate for Building Control.
- Sound insulation testing in Merton
Pre-completion testing of separating walls and floors between homes, reported in the form Building Control expects.
- Ventilation testing in Merton
Airflow measurement of extract fans and ventilation systems, recorded for the Building Control completion file.
- Asbestos surveys in Merton
Surveys that find and record asbestos-containing materials, and explain which survey type a building needs.
- Management asbestos survey in Merton
A survey of the accessible parts of an occupied building so the dutyholder can manage asbestos during normal use.
- Refurbishment and demolition survey in Merton
An intrusive survey of the areas affected by planned refurbishment or demolition, carried out before work starts.
- Pre-purchase asbestos survey in Merton
An asbestos survey arranged before buying a property, so the buyer knows what is present and where.
- Retrofit assessments in Merton
A whole-house assessment of a home's condition and energy use, used to plan retrofit measures.
- Smoke shaft and AOV testing in Merton
Testing of smoke shafts and automatic opening vents to confirm they operate as designed.
- Borescope inspections in Merton
Camera inspection of cavities and voids through small holes, without opening up the structure.
- Legionella risk assessments in Merton
An assessment of a building's water systems that identifies legionella risk and the controls needed.
- MVHR commissioning in Merton
Setting up and measuring a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery system, with commissioning records for handover.
- Fire risk assessments in Merton
A written assessment of fire risk in a building's common or work areas, with the actions needed to reduce it.
Energy and Calculations
- SAP calculations in Merton
The energy calculation for new homes and conversions, from design stage figures to the as-built result.
- SBEM calculations in Merton
The energy calculation for new and altered non-domestic buildings, with the BRUKL output Building Control asks for.
- U-value calculations in Merton
Calculated U-values for walls, floors and roofs, set out in a document Building Control can check against the limits.
- EPC in Merton
Energy Performance Certificates for homes and commercial buildings that are built, sold or let.
- Display energy certificates in Merton
Display Energy Certificates showing the actual energy use of public buildings, with the advisory report.
- Water calculations in Merton
The water efficiency calculation for new homes, showing estimated daily use per person against the target.
- Condensation risk analysis in Merton
Analysis of how moisture moves through a wall, roof or floor build-up, showing whether condensation risk is acceptable.
- Home energy model in Merton
Assessment under the Home Energy Model, the government's planned replacement for SAP.
- Thermal bridging calculations in Merton
Calculated psi-values for junctions, replacing default values in SAP and SBEM with measured detail.
- Background ventilation calculations in Merton
Calculations that size trickle vents and background ventilation for each room, ready for Building Control.
- Overheating assessments in Merton
Overheating assessment for new homes, using the simplified method where it applies.
Design and Planning
- Energy statements in Merton
Energy statements written for planning applications, setting out how a scheme meets the council's energy policy.
- London plan energy assessments in Merton
Energy assessments for London schemes, following the Mayor's energy hierarchy and carbon reporting requirements.
- Acoustic design in Merton
Acoustic design advice from the early stages of a project, so construction details meet sound requirements.
- Party wall and ceiling design in Merton
Design review of separating wall constructions between homes, so they are built to pass sound testing.
- Party floor design in Merton
Design review of separating floor constructions between flats, so they are built to pass sound testing.
- CIBSE TM59 and TM52 assessments in Merton
Dynamic thermal modelling of overheating risk, assessed against CIBSE TM59 for homes and TM52 for other buildings.
- Sustainability statements in Merton
Sustainability statements for planning applications, covering the topics the council's policies ask for.
- Noise surveys in Merton
Noise impact assessment for planning applications, and the starting point for the specific noise surveys below.
- Environmental noise survey in Merton
Measurement of existing noise levels at a site, used to inform design and planning submissions.
- Residential noise surveys in Merton
Noise assessment for new homes, showing that internal and external noise levels will be acceptable.
- Commercial and industrial noise surveys in Merton
Assessment of sound from commercial and industrial sources under BS 4142.
- Road and rail noise surveys in Merton
Assessment of road and railway noise affecting a proposed development.
- Entertainment and night club noise surveys in Merton
Noise assessment for bars, clubs and venues, and for homes planned near them.
- Regulation 25A reports in Merton
The report on high-efficiency alternative energy systems required for new buildings under Regulation 25A.
Merton’s small-scheme energy and overheating tests
The Local Validation Checklist, December 2024 updated June 2026, headed Validation Checklist 2025, distinguishes an Energy Assessment Report from Merton’s minor residential Energy Assessment Template. The report applies to ten or more dwellings and/or at least 500sqm non-residential gross internal floorspace, including conversions and changes of use. The template applies to one to nine dwellings, also including conversions and changes of use. A small conversion is therefore not outside Merton’s energy evidence requirements. Scope energy statements around the correct route.
The same Merton checklist asks for as-designed SAP or BRUKL outputs for schemes creating at least one dwelling or 500sqm non-residential gross internal floorspace. It also requests a GLA Carbon Reporting Spreadsheet at the larger threshold. Coordinate the energy narrative with SAP calculations or SBEM calculations so that floor areas, fabric and systems agree across the submission.
For one to nine homes, the checklist requires the Good Homes Alliance Overheating Risk Tool. Medium or high risk results trigger an overheating assessment. An assessment is also required for ten or more homes or at least 500sqm non-residential gross internal floorspace. Commission overheating assessments before fixing glazing and ventilation, rather than treating the minor-scheme screening exercise as an automatic pass.
Merton Local Plan: demand, water and noise
Merton adopted its Local Plan on 20 November 2024, replacing the 2014 Sites and Policies Plan, 2014 Policies Map and 2011 Core Planning Strategy. The council says applications validated after that date are assessed against the new plan. Do not base a current compliance brief on the superseded documents simply because an earlier permission nearby used them.
In the Merton Local Plan 2024–2037/38, CC2.2 addresses greenhouse gas emissions and CC2.3 minimises energy use. CC2.3 requires proposals creating one or more dwellings or at least 500sqm non-residential GIA to minimise demand through passive measures, building form, fabric and systems, and disclose anticipated Energy Use Intensity at design and pre-occupation stages. This makes the energy model a design input: compare fabric and servicing options before selecting equipment, and retain the assumptions for the later review.
Policy CC2.6 in the adopted plan requires residential development to meet an internal water efficiency standard of 105 litres per person per day. It also requires major and high-water-use developments to include water-saving measures such as rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling. Use water calculations to check the fittings schedule, and a sustainability statement to explain the wider resource strategy where relevant. Keep the internal consumption target distinct from any allowance for external use.
Merton’s validation checklist links acoustic evidence to Local Plan Policy P15.10. It covers noise-sensitive development near existing noise, noise-generating uses affecting existing buildings, and installations including air conditioning, flues, extraction and plant. Noise surveys and acoustic design should inform both equipment positions and window-opening assumptions used in overheating work.
Merton evidence alongside the London Plan 2021
The London Plan 2021 sits alongside Merton’s borough plan. Merton’s checklist explicitly references London Plan SI 2 and SI 3 for energy evidence and GLA Energy Planning Guidance for the larger-scheme report. Our London Plan energy assessments can bring those requirements into one brief, while retaining Merton’s separate minor-residential template route. A borough submission should demonstrate the applicable local requirements, not rely only on a regional-policy summary.
Merton rental licensing depends on ward and occupancy
Merton’s published additional HMO licence criteria cover three or four occupiers forming more than one household in Colliers Wood, Cricket Green, Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Lavender Fields, Longthornton and Pollards Hill, subject to exemptions. Its selective licence criteria cover single-household rentals in Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Longthornton and Pollards Hill, again with exemptions. Check the address and occupancy against the council’s live criteria before commissioning a licensing evidence package.
The additional licensing page excludes properties licensable under mandatory HMO licensing, so failure to meet the additional-scheme criteria does not settle every landlord’s position. Review fire risk assessments, EPCs and legionella risk assessments according to the building and its use. These are separate compliance enquiries, not a claim that every Merton licence application needs all three reports.
Merton conservation appraisals and thermal upgrades
The council’s conservation area list includes Bertram Cottages, Cricket Green in Mitcham and John Innes: Merton Park, with area-specific maps and assessment material. For a thermal upgrade, identify the relevant boundary and appraisal before choosing visible alterations. Retrofit assessments and U-value calculations can compare improvements, but do not establish whether replacement windows, external insulation or equipment will receive planning permission.
Building compliance questions in Merton
Does a one-home conversion in Merton need energy evidence?
Yes. The Merton checklist includes conversions creating one to nine dwellings in the minor residential Energy Assessment Template route and also asks for as-designed SAP or BRUKL outputs.
What internal water target does Merton publish?
Policy CC2.6 of the adopted Merton Local Plan specifies 105 litres per person per day for residential development. Agree fittings and consumption assumptions before finalising the calculation.
Is selective licensing listed for all Merton wards?
The council’s published criteria name Figge’s Marsh, Graveney, Longthornton and Pollards Hill for single-household rentals, subject to exemptions. Verify the property’s ward and current position directly before applying.
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