Furzedown is the most southerly ward in Wandsworth - the area south of Tooting Bec. It is very similar to both neighbouring Graveney wards - those in Wandsworth and Merton.  It is an almost entirely residential area; a maze of long terraced streets sandwiched between Mitcham, Streatham and Tooting.

There are some strong community networks here centred on the Furzedown Project in Moyser Road and the several churches in the ward.  Graveney Secondary School is also here, with its controversial selection and admission policies.

Furzedown  isn't entirely residential: the main roads like Mitcham Road contain several small shops, and the southern-most part of Tooting Graveney Common, along with the Athletics stadium is in the ward.  There is a council estate in the east of the ward: the Faylands in Thrale Road but generally this is terraced, pretty affordable (for London) owner occupied territory of the sort that can be found in abundance either side in Mitcham, Morden and Streatham.  

Some refer to this area as Streatham Park, and it boasts a Streatham postcode; it was even part of the Streatham constituency until 1970.  It is fairly isolated from the rest of Wandsworth, nonetheless with railway lines bordering it on three sides.  Aside from Tooting station in the north-west corner, there is no public transport direct into central London and those without cars rely heavily on buses.

One in four residents: 25% is from black and minority ethnic minorities (principally the Asian communities) - figures only higher in Tooting and Graveney wards. Less than 10% are employed in managerial professions - despite limited gentrification and the unemployment rate is higher than the Wandsworth average. A clear majority either own, or are buying their homes.

Furzedown is a most contrary ward politically. For the past twenty years, it has only elected a full-slate of candidates from one party or the other once.  At every other election it has either elected two Conservatives and one Labour representative (as at present), or vice versa. 

Facts & figures

Population: 13,549

Housing tenure:
Owner-occupied: 57.8%
Public sector renting: 18.6%
Private sector renting: 19.4%

Household type:
Detached/Semi detached: 13.5%
Terraced: 37.3%
Purpose-built flats: 26.0%
Multi-occupancy house: 21.3%

Employment:
Full-time employed: 44.6%
Self-employed: 7.9%
Unemployed: 4.1%
Retired: 9.5%
Students: 12.4%

Socio-economic bands:
Professional/Managerial: 36.4%
Skilled/unskilled manual: 27.0%

Ethnicity:
White: 65.6%
Black/Minority Ethnic: 34.4%

Source: 2001 Census