Councillors query tower plans after window fall

A developer behind Colliers Wood's tallest tower has unveiled plans for three new tower blocks, but faces fierce opposition after a windowpane fell from its existing high-rise.

Criterion Capital, which owns the 19-storey Britannia Point in south-west London, wants to build blocks of up to 16 storeys high on land behind the tower.

Councillors said the local community had "no faith" in the firm, citing unpaid costs and safety failures which led to a glass pane falling from the 12th floor of the tower on 27 June 2022.

The incident left Merton Council with a £3m bill for emergency work to make the building safe and claims Criterion still owes it the money. Criterion has been approached for comment.

Councillor Stuart Neaverson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "This easily could have killed someone if they were walking past at that moment in time."

He said the incident exposed serious concerns about the building's safety and management.

Subsequent inspections by Criterion found that 69 windows across the tower needed replacing.

During that period, Mr Neaverson claims Criterion refused to take further action to secure the building.

Merton Council issued an emergency order allowing it to erect scaffolding around the tower to protect the public.

The scaffolding remained in place for about 18 months while safety checks were carried out, at significant cost to the council.

Criterion is now proposing revised plans for a new development behind Britannia Point, which it is calling Colliers Gardens.

The land, between Wandle Park and Colliers Wood Recreation Ground, is currently used as a temporary coach park and vehicle storage facility.

The revised plans include a 16-storey aparthotel, a 14-storey co-living building and a seven-storey private rented block arranged around a central green space.

The new proposal, which Criterion says it consulted residents on in July, replaces a previous application rejected by Merton Council in 2024.

That scheme would have seen towers made up of 26 and 16 storeys built behind Britannia Point, but councillors said it amounted to overdevelopment and would have placed additional strain on local infrastructure.

On its proposal website, Criterion states that the updated plans have "improved the design, scale and led to an increase to the height of the proposed residential building in order to increase the amount of affordable housing".

It also proposes enhancements to the public realm and green routes between Colliers Wood station and nearby Wandle Park.

Mr Neaverson questioned these new proposals, which are expected to go before the planning committee in 2026, citing what he sees as a loss of trust between the developer and the local community.

He pointed to other issues at Britannia Point, which is entirely private rented accommodation.

In 2023, he said residents were left without water for a month and faced repeated lift failures and antisocial behaviour when doors were not secured.

He recalled helping a heavily pregnant woman on the 14th floor who felt "trapped" when both lifts broke down and was missing hospital appointments.

Speaking on behalf of Merton Labour, he added: "It's incredibly frustrating that Criterion are trying to build three new towers in Colliers Wood when they can't even take care of the one they have. How can the community have any faith in what they are saying?

"Instead, they should pay back Merton Council the £3m they owe after the council was forced to step in and make the current tower safe when a window pane fell out and smashed on the pavement below.

"We stand with local residents in opposition to these towers and will continue to make their voices heard."

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