The Sutton South, Cheam and Belmont Local Committee met to discuss a range of local issues, including Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs), crime and community safety, and updates on local matters such as the London Cancer Hub and gas works. The committee received presentations from Citizens Advice Sutton and Parkinson's Sutton, Kingston & Epsom. They also reviewed written updates on land classification and trading standards activities.

Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

The committee received a presentation explaining the council's Article 4 Direction¹ and how the council manages Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is defined as a property where at least three unrelated people from more than one household share amenities such as a kitchen, bathroom, or toilet. A household is defined as members of the same family. As of February 2025, all new HMOs in Sutton require planning permission. Additionally, a mandatory HMO licence is required if the HMO houses five or more people.

According to the council's public register, there are 218 licensed HMOs across the borough, with 24 located within the Sutton South, Cheam and Belmont Local Committee area: 11 in South Sutton Ward, five in Cheam Ward, and eight in Belmont Ward.

The council manages HMOs through licensing, with Environmental Health granting licences for up to five years if the property meets the required standards and the applicant is deemed a fit and proper person. Operating a licensable HMO without a licence is an offence, with penalties including unlimited fines and the council taking over management of the property. All HMOs, whether licensable or not, must meet amenity and fire safety standards. The council is considering extending mandatory licensing to include all HMOs, regardless of size, and has recently consulted on this.

Under national planning rules, houses can be converted into small HMOs (up to six people) without planning permission, a provision known as permitted development rights . However, HMOs for seven or more people always require planning permission. The council introduced its Article 4 Direction in February 2025, meaning that all HMOs now require planning permission, regardless of size. Failure to obtain planning permission could result in a planning enforcement investigation.

Illegal Tobacco and Action by Trading Standards

The committee were briefed on the challenges faced by Trading Standards teams in tackling the sale of illicit and underage vapes and cigarettes, including a growing black market run by organised crime groups, limited resources, and the high burden of proof required for prosecution.

A ban on the sale of single-use (disposable) vapes came into force on 1 June 2025. Non-compliant retailers could face unlimited fines and up to two years in prison.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill² provides powers to introduce a new licensing scheme for retailers selling tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products. From January to May 2025, Sutton Trading Standards undertook a project to map independent premises across the boroughs selling age-restricted goods like tobacco, vapes, alcohol, corrosive materials, and knives. The premises were advised on their duties and provided with written and practical advice on storage and the prevention of sale of age-restricted products to children.

London Cancer Hub

The committee received an update on the London Cancer Hub, focusing on tree loss and land potentially going through the Belmont Allotments.

The central tension in the London Cancer Hub application is the access strategy, including a new access road across the existing Belmont Allotments. Land is set aside within the application site for replacement allotments, and discussions are ongoing about the timing of reprovision. Allotment holders have expressed concern that the road proposal effectively blights their existing allotments, and are seeking earlier alternative provision. This is currently under discussion with the applicant.

The loss of street trees along Brighton Road is another issue that the council is in dialogue with the applicant about. The detailed design of the link road is likely to reduce the number of healthy trees that would be lost, and this will be considered at a later stage. The tree survey showed a 'worst case scenario', as is standard practice.

Gas Works Update

The committee received an update on essential gas utility apparatus repairs being undertaken by SGN across Sutton South, Cheam and Belmont.

Works will be undertaken in accordance with the Traffic Management Act and associated codes of practice. It is illegal to obstruct entry onto the highways, and where a utility needs to obstruct access to a property, they are duty bound to contact the homeowner prior to the works taking place.

Classification of Land

The committee received a written update on the classification of land held for development in the borough. Different parcels of land have different planning status:

• Outline planning permission establishes the principle of specific development proposals, informed by technical studies.
• Full planning permission establishes the principle and detail of a proposed new development.
• Hybrid planning permission is part outline, part full, and may be used for large schemes.

The council monitors these sites and publishes a report. Individual planning applications can be viewed on the online database.

Sites are allocated for different uses (including development) in the current Local Plan and may be counted towards the land supply figures. An allocation does not mean development can happen; planning permission is still required.

As part of the plan-making process, the council published a 'call for sites', inviting landowners and developers to submit sites that they consider meet the criteria to be allocated for development.

Information about brownfield sites can be viewed on the council's website.

Regarding specific sites, Reed Tower (also known as Quadrant House) is a live planning application for residential, including co-living. The proposals have been reviewed by an independent Design Review Panel and are currently under review by the Greater London Authority (GLA). The council is working with the applicant to agree on a Section 106³ legal obligation and draft planning conditions.

Other Matters

• The committee received a presentation from Citizens Advice Sutton on how their services meet the advice needs of residents in the Sutton South, Cheam and Belmont wards.
• The committee received a presentation from Parkinson's Sutton, Kingston & Epsom, giving an overview of their services and explaining what is on offer for participants and how to get involved.
• The committee received an update on crime and community safety in the Sutton South, Cheam and Belmont wards.
• The committee noted that the next meeting would take place on 5 February 2026.