I have continued to work closely and successfully with Mayor Jason Perry to safeguard the character of our area and protect family homes.
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.
But now there’s a new threat to our area as London Mayor Sadiq Khan is proposing to release Croydon's Green Belt for development, much of which is due to be incorporated into the Surrey Hills National Landscape. He won’t name them but without doubt our parks and green spaces are under threat. And once they’re gone, they’re gone.
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.
Concreting over our green spaces should not be an option. It’s not necessary. There are brownfield sites suitable for house building, and we're meeting our housing targets. Our green spaces are particularly important for many Croydon residents who don’t have access to a private garden. They’re vital for our wildlife, for biodiversity, for carbon capture and for our mental health.
Sadiq Khan, backed by Croydon Labour and the Labour Government, want to come for our Green Belt, Reform have also voted to support Labour’s plans.
I responded formally to the London Plan to register my objection (copy of my response).
Help me oppose Labour’s plans and protect our Green Belt by signing Mayor Jason Perry's petition here:
https://www.jasonperry.uk/campaigns/greenbelt
I will keep everyone updated!
