Against losing yet another family home for flats

There has been another application to destroy a family home and to replace it with flats – this time on Croham Valley Road. You can read my official opposition to the application below. Please do share this using the button below so that as many people as possible are aware of the planning mess in our area.

The best way that we can stop the council from continuing with this planning mess is through a Directly Elected Mayor. You can learn more about this campaign and download the petition here –https://democ.org.uk/sign-petition

20/02218/FUL 

Demolition of existing dwelling and erection of a three storey building to provide 9 residential units, with associated landscaped areas including children’s playspace, vehicular access, parking, cycle and refuse storage 

8 Croham Valley Road South Croydon CR2 7NA 

  1. The proposal for 9 new homes spread over 3 storeys – would be a significant overdevelopment of this site due to its size, height, density, footprint, bulk and massing and would be detrimental to the local character 
  2. The proposed development would be overbearing due to its bulk and massing, it would be out of character with and harmful to the street scene 
  1. There would be a detrimental impact on the amenities of adjoining occupiers due to overlooking, overbearing impact and loss of privacy 
  2. Loss of mature trees and risk to retained trees 
  3. Concreting over of garden space and the loss of natural vegetation and natural habitat 
  4. Unacceptable parking arrangements and inadequate parking provision for residents and visitors; unacceptable domination of the frontage by car parking 
  5. Lack of consideration of any impact on local infrastructure: eg schools, GPs, drainage 
  6. Such intensification is no longer justifiable following the reduction in the London Plan housing targets  

On these above grounds the application breaches the following policies: 

Croydon Local Plan, February 2018 

  • Policy SP1.2 on page 13: “The Council will require all new development in the borough to contribute to enhancing a sense of place and improving the character of the area, whilst acknowledging the need for growth … Development proposals should respond to and enhance local character” 
  • Policy DM10.1, page 86: “Proposals should be of high quality and, whilst seeking to achieve a minimum height of 3 storeys, should respect: a. The development pattern, layout and siting; b. The scale, height, massing, and density; c. The appearance, existing materials and built and natural features of the surrounding area; the Place of Croydon in which it is located…. 
  • DM10.6, page 87: “The Council will support proposals for development that ensure that; a. The amenity of the occupiers of adjoining buildings are protected; and that b. They do not result in direct overlooking at close range or habitable rooms in main rear or private elevations; and that c. They do not result in direct overlooking of private outdoor space (with the exception of communal open space) within 10m perpendicular to the rear elevation of a dwelling”

National Planning Policy Framework, July 2018 

  • Paragraph 8(b) “protecting and enhancing our natural, built and historic environment” 
  • Paragraph 122 – “Planning Policy and decisions should support development that makes efficient use of land that, taking into account (a) the identified need for different types of housing … (b) local market conditions …. (c) the availability and capacity of infrastructure and services … (d) the desirability of maintaining an area’s prevailing character and setting (including residential gardens)” 
  • Clause 127 (c) “Planning policies and decisions should ensure that developments … (c) are sympathetic to local character and history, including the surrounding built environment and landscape setting, while not preventing appropriate innovation or change (such as increased densities)” 
  • Paragraph 131 – applications should “fit in with the overall form and layout of their surroundings”