The future of a major development in Wimbledon town centre could be decided within the next fortnight.

Plans for a six-storey development of flats and shops will go before the Mayor of London's office "in the next couple of weeks", a spokesman for Merton Council said at a public meeting yesterday.

The mayor's approval is needed before work on the scheme, which was accepted by the council in May, can begin.

The development, by Wimbledon Phoenix Ltd, is planned for the site of the council car park at the junction of Hartfeild Road and Sir Cyril Black Way.

It would include 26 one-bedroom apartments and 84 two-bedroom apartments. A three-storey underground car park would be managed by the council and include spaces for visitors and residents.

The council have claimed that some of the proposed flats would be available at an affordable' price and that some of the money raised by the sale of land for the development could be used to finance a new community hall in Wimbledon Town Centre.

This week's announcement was made by the council's head of planning John Hill at the Wimbledon Community Forum yesterday.