🏘 RECENT LOCAL PLANNING VICTORIES
I write with another periodic update of more recent good news on local planning matters. I have continued to work closely and successfully with Mayor Jason Perry to safeguard the character of our area and protect family homes.
I know many residents share my view that, while some new flats are needed (especially for younger people trying to get on the property ladder for the first time) we should not be destroying family homes, which local families need, or changing the character of green suburbs like ours to build them. New flats are better suited to places like Croydon town centre, city centres and brownfield sites.
Local objections to over-development – including mine as our local MP and those of local Residents’ Associations and councillors as well as individual residents – continue to now be listened to under Mayor Perry's new planning approach in Croydon, and applications to destroy family homes and replace them with blocks of flats are now almost always rejected after proper consideration.
Below is an update of some recent very positive planning decisions, where inappropriate applications have been declined. For a variety of reasons, these proposals were clearly inappropriate for these sites in our local neighbourhoods and I shared residents’ concerns about them, so I am pleased to see that all of these applications have been refused.
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Coulsdon Town
Mostyn, The Avenue, Coulsdon, CR5 2BN (24/03105/FUL)
Proposed destruction of a family home to build a block of six flats. Refused due to failing to mitigate the harmful highway impacts and parking demands created, as well as providing inadequate information on biodiversity, protected species, and having a harmful impact on the long-term health of the neighbouring trees.
Result: Refused permission
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Kenley
2 Godstone Road, Kenley, CR8 5JE (24/03886/FUL)
Proposed destruction of a family home to build a block of six flats over four floors. Refused as its design, bulk and massing would be an overdevelopment of the site, and would harm the setting of the surrounding locally listed buildings. It would also provide both poor quality accommodation and communal areas, as well as the impact on neighbours, parking and road safety.
Result: Refused permission
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Purley and Woodcote
60 Woodcote Valley Road, Purley, CR8 3BD (23/02249/FUL)
Proposed destruction of a family home to squeeze five houses in instead. Refused due to an inability to address the impacts of intensifying the site, by failing to provide contributions for transport improvements or off-site infrastructure.
Result: Refused permission
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38 Brighton Road, Purley, CR8 2LG (24/02793/FUL)
Proposed loss of a family home changing into a 12-bedroom HMO (House of Multiple Occupancy) with the addition of multiple one and two storey extensions. Refused due to providing sub-standard accommodation, inadequate bedroom spaces, lack of storage, insufficient kitchen facilities, poor internal layout, and failing to demonstrate that required ceiling heights would be achieved.
Result: Refused permission
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34 Brighton Road, Purley, CR8 3AD (24/00847/FUL)
Proposed change of a language school into a 10-person 6-bedroom HMO (House of Multiple Occupancy). Refused due to loss of a community facility without evidence that there is no longer a community need for the premises, conflicting with policies which seek to protect existing community facilities and, specifically in relation to this site, seek the provision of a health centre and the retention of existing uses and their floor space. In addition, vehicle access would negatively effect road safety.
Result: Refused permission
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South Croydon
50A Birdhurst Road, South Croydon, CR2 7EB (24/04234/FUL)
Proposed change of use from a family home to supported living accommodation. Refused as no evidence of a need for this type of care home provided, and it would have a detrimental impact on highway and pedestrian safety.
Result: Refused permission
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35 Kingsdown Avenue, South Croydon, CR2 6QG (24/04137/LP)
Proposed change of use of a family home to a residential children's home. Refused as this would be a material change of use and constitute development requiring full planning permission.
Result: Lawful development certificate refused
