A £3.7m investment will drive the planned transformation of Colliers Wood.

Earlier this month the Wimbledon Guardian revealed Merton Council’s plan to create a new high street in Christchurch Road.

Now the Mayor of London has announced the amount Merton Council will receive for projects in the area.

A grant of £715,000 for Mitcham town centre has also been announced, which should spark further council investment.

The authority said the Colliers Wood cash would be used to create a new “town square area” near the Brown and Root tower, which is set for redevelopment.

Shops will also receive a facelift and new street furniture will be installed.

A Merton Council spokesman said the cash would also benefit South Wimbledon and create a new “boulevard” with footpaths and cycle lanes in Merantun Way.

The cash has come from a Greater London Authority (GLA) regeneration fund for areas affected by last year’s rioting.

The authority said the money to improve Mitcham town centre – drawn from the GLA’s outer London fund – would be spent rejuvenating Mitcham market, refurbishing shop fronts and landscaping Mitcham Fair Green.

It also promised to match some of the investment, raising the total to £1.37m to be spent in the next two years.

Keith Spears, chairman of community group Making Colliers Wood Happy, said some of the cash should be spent on the stretch of Colliers Wood High Street between Tesco Express and Byegrove Road.

He said: “In a consultation about 15 years ago, this was referred to as Colliers Green.

“It’s become a shabby and neglected area in one of the busiest places in Colliers Wood.”

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