Air conditioning in Merton

Terraces, semis and garden suburbs

In the 2021 Census, 36 per cent of Merton households lived in a terraced house, 19 per cent in a semi-detached house and 6 per cent in a detached one. Another 28 per cent lived in purpose-built flats and 9 per cent in flats in a converted house. About 29 per cent of households rent privately.

Wimbledon and South Wimbledon have streets of Victorian and Edwardian terraces and villas. Merton Park is older than most suburbs: the council says John Innes began laying it out in the 1870s, in what is arguably the first garden suburb, with a spacious, low-density layout and generous planting. Further south, the interwar St Helier estate built by the London County Council runs across Morden and into Sutton.

For a terraced house, the outdoor unit usually goes on the back-addition wall or on the ground in the rear garden, with the pipes going straight through the wall behind the indoor unit. A semi or detached house often has a side wall too, which suits a multi-split cooling several bedrooms from one outdoor unit.

Merton's view of air conditioning: passive cooling first

Merton's current plan is the Merton Local Plan 2024 to 2037/38, adopted on 20 November 2024. It replaced the 2011 Core Strategy and the 2014 Sites and Policies Plan.

Policy D12.3 asks new development to mitigate overheating through good design: orientation, shading, insulation, ventilation and greenery. The supporting text says development must put passive cooling ahead of active systems such as air conditioning, to limit energy use and waste heat. That's Merton's version of the London Plan cooling hierarchy.

On noise, Policy P15.10 asks for plant to be kept away from homes where possible, and for a noise assessment of any new plant and equipment where planning permission is needed. Where heat pumps are proposed, the plan expects neighbours not to be harmed by noise, vibration or loss of outlook. We choose quiet units, place them away from neighbours' windows and fit anti-vibration mounts.

None of this applies if your install doesn't need planning permission. A heating-capable unit on an unlisted house that meets every national rule needs no application. Our planning guide explains those rules, and we tell you at the survey which side of the line you're on.

Conservation areas and Article 4 directions

The council lists 28 conservation areas. Most are in and around Wimbledon, with others in Merton Park, Morden and Mitcham.

The John Innes Merton Park and John Innes Wilton Crescent conservation areas have Article 4 directions. The 2007 direction removes rights for alterations that front a road or other public space, including changes to windows, doors and the outside finish of the walls. It doesn't mention air conditioning, but treat a unit on a front or road-facing wall there as needing planning permission. A rear position is the usual answer. The council has also proposed a direction for the Wandle Valley conservation area, so check the current position for your address.

• Wimbledon Village, Wimbledon North, Wimbledon West and Wimbledon Windmill
• Wimbledon Hill Road, Wimbledon Broadway and Wimbledon Chase
• Copse Hill, Vineyard Hill Road, Lambton Road and Leopold Road
• John Innes Merton Park, John Innes Wilton Crescent and Merton Hall Road
• South Park Gardens, Pelham Road and Dunmore Road
• Cricket Green in Mitcham and the Wandle Valley
• Upper Morden

Parking, the Championships and working hours

Merton has controlled parking zones in Wimbledon town centre, Wimbledon Village, Wimbledon Park, South Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Merton Park, Colliers Wood, Morden, Mitcham and West Barnes. Hours vary by zone, so we check the signs before the visit.

Where we need a clear space, Merton asks for at least 10 full working days' notice for a bay suspension, and the signs usually go up 7 days before. Fees from 21 April 2026 are a £36.75 admin fee, £36.75 per bay for the first day and £40 per bay for each day after. A single yellow line waiver is £36.75 per vehicle per day. For longer jobs, a 7-day trade permit for any Merton zone costs from £52.50. Any council fee is shown on your quote.

During the Wimbledon Championships, parking in Wimbledon Village, Wimbledon Park and parts of the town centre is restricted. In 2026 the restrictions ran from 29 June to 12 July, with some roads closed to vehicles without a permit. If you live in those streets, we plan your install day around the fortnight.

Merton allows noisy building work from 8am to 6pm on weekdays and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays, and not normally on Sundays or bank holidays. Merton is outside the Congestion Charge zone. The ULEZ covers all of London.

Air conditioning for Merton businesses

We fit wall units, ceiling cassettes and multi-room systems in offices, shops, clinics and restaurants in Wimbledon, Colliers Wood, Morden and Mitcham, and in units on the industrial areas such as Willow Lane. We also service and repair existing systems in business hours. Outdoor units for business premises often need planning permission, and Merton expects a noise assessment with the application. We provide sound data, drawings and siting.

Prices in Merton

Our standard London prices. Home prices include VAT and business prices are plus VAT. Planning drawings, noise reports and long pipe runs are quoted after the survey.

• A bedroom or study

  2.5 kW wall unit, 5 m pipe, fitted in a day

  from£1,850inc. VAT

• A living room

  3.5 kW wall unit

  from£2,050inc. VAT

• Two rooms, one outdoor unit

  Multi-split

  from£3,650inc. VAT

• Three rooms

  Multi-split

  from£5,100inc. VAT

• Premium range upgrade

  Quieter, more efficient unit

  from£250inc. VAT

• Commercial wall unit

  Fitted in business hours

  from£1,795+ VAT

• An annual service

  Keeps the manufacturer warranty valid

  from£119inc. VAT

Neighbourhoods we cover

We work across the whole borough, including:

• Wimbledon, Wimbledon Village and Wimbledon Park (SW19)
• South Wimbledon, Colliers Wood and Merton Park (SW19)
• Raynes Park and West Wimbledon (SW20)
• Morden, Lower Morden and St Helier (SM4)
• West Barnes and the Merton side of Motspur Park (KT3)
• Mitcham, Pollards Hill and Cricket Green (CR4)
• Longthornton (SW16)

Merton questions