The Trafalgar pub in Wimbledon, the area’s oldest freehouse, may soon be turned into flats amid a bitter planning row that has been taken to the Secretary of State.
Landlord Oli Carter-Esdale told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “People love that pub, I love that pub. I’ve put a lot of blood, sweat, tears, a huge amount of money and a couple of broken fingers into it. When you look at the pub from outside, I’ll admit it’s a bit rough and ready. Then you go inside and find there’s something in the air.” A pub has stood on the site of The Trafalgar since at least 1868 – 147 years – now nestled at the heart of the soon-to-be redeveloped High Path Estate. But after surviving a two World Wars and countless other challenges, it may soon be demolished.
The current planning row began in summer 2024, when site owners, Adenbuild Construction Limited, submitted plans to knock down the building and replace it with a four-storey housing block containing six flats and a smaller pub or retail unit below.
The group claimed the development would support Clarion Homes’ regeneration of the estate and that the design would reflect the area’s industrial heritage.
In 2025, The Trafalgar appeared to have earned a stay of execution, when Merton Council’s Planning Committee rejected the planning application.
The council said the plans would cause substantial harm to the local community and heritage. The pub was lauded as a vital community hub and a rare surviving piece of working-class history in the borough.
But the celebrations were short-lived. Adenbuild lodged an appeal, and now the decision will now fall to the Secretary of State and the Bristol-based Planning Inspectorate.
Landlord Oli and his team believe the new scheme, which includes a small commercial unit in place of a fully functioning pub, would do little to serve the needs of local residents. They say it would destroy the sense of community The Trafalgar has created and claimed they were not properly consulted on the changes.
He said: “The difference between the two applications is so vast they should have been treated separately. It boggles the mind.
“Six flats above a token café or bar will never replicate what we have now. It’s a lurid insult to everyone who has spent time here fighting to preserve it.”
A spokesperson for Linea Homes, representing Adenbuild, said: “Linea Homes is proud to reaffirm our commitment to bringing a brand-new Trafalgar Pub back to the heart of the community.
“We understand the current building holds memories for many, but it clearly requires significant investment to secure its future. Our vision is to breathe new life into the site, with a high-quality pub at ground level and six thoughtfully designed flats above, helping meet local housing needs while ensuring long-term sustainability.
“The new building has been carefully designed by an award-winning architect, inspired by the area’s heritage, including the historic Tri-ang toy factory. It blends tradition with something fresh for the future.
“We look forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces to a reimagined Trafalgar Pub, built to serve the community for generations to come.”