Many local people have been concerned about planning for some years, so I thought it was worth starting 2023 by setting out in detail the positive practical impact that recent changes have had to local planning. These are changes that I have been fighting for over many years, together with local residents and Residents’ Associations.
As everyone knows, over the past few years the previous Labour council issued indiscriminate planning consents – usually paving the way for replacing family homes with ugly blocks of flats. This risked changing the character of our neighbourhood and putting huge pressure on our essential local services.
Since Labour was removed from office last May, there has been a step-change. The new Conservative Directly Elected Mayor Jason Perry has changed planning policy to better protect our neighbourhood, including scrapping the hated SPD2 rules, and the planning committee is no longer controlled by Labour. This means that planning applications are now examined properly, and planning policy is carefully applied.
The practical results of these changes are apparent from the applications listed below which have been rejected in recent months. You will see that Labour councillors voted in favour of each application, showing that all of them would have simply been waved through on Labour’s watch.
Interestingly, the developers have in some cases appealed to the planning inspector to try to get their schemes approved, but the inspector has generally been agreeing with decisions to refuse permission. Developers who were targeting Croydon are now backing off and trying their luck elsewhere.
Of course, we do need more homes. However, new flats should be in appropriate places, such as brownfield sites or large city centres, and family homes and the green character of suburbs should always be protected.
Over the years, I joined many of you campaigning to protect our neighbourhood from Labour’s indiscriminate approval of planning applications. I am so pleased that results are now being delivered. I strongly commend Mayor Jason Perry and the new Planning Committee Chair Cllr Michael Neal for their approach, and I will keep working with them and with local residents on this issue.
Recent planning decisions
Planning Committee – 14th July
- 2 Highland Road, Purley, CR8 2HS – Demolition of the existing dwelling to erect three-storey building comprising eight flats. Five Conservative councillors voted to refuse, five Labour Members voted to give consent and the Conservative Chair Cllr Michael Neal used his casting vote to decline. Result: Permission denied
- 87-89 Foxley Lane, Purley, CR8 3HP – Demolition of a pair of semi-detached houses and erection of a four-storey building to house 22 flats with associated car parking and landscaping. Five Conservative councillors voted to refuse, three Labour Members voted to give consent and two Labour Members abstained Result: Permission denied
Planning Committee – 11th August
- 220 Brighton Road, Purley, CR8 4HB – Demolition of the existing two storey house and detached garage and the erection of a four-storey building to provide nine flats with associated car parking and landscaping. Five Conservative councillors voted to refuse, five Labour Members voted to give consent and the Conservative Chair Cllr Michael Neal used his casting vote to decline. Result: Permission denied
Planning Committee – 10th November
- 18 Brambledown Road, South Croydon, CR2 0BL – Demolition of the existing dwelling to erect a four-storey building comprising of seven flats and associated parking and landscaping. Five Conservative councillors voted to refuse, five Labour Members voted to give consent and the Conservative Chair Cllr Michael Neal used his casting vote to decline. Result: Permission denied
Planning Committee – 1st December
- 72 Waddington Avenue, Coulsdon CR5 1QN – Demolition of the existing house and the construction of a block of five flats, two pairs of semi-detached houses to the rear, and associated parking and landscaping. Five Conservative councillors voted to refuse Result: Permission denied
Delegated decisions taken by officers using the new planning policy
- 5 More Close, Purley, CR8 2JN – Demolition of existing house to erect a four-storey building comprising of nine flats. Date of decision: 02/12/22. Result: Permission denied
- 25 Pampisford Road, Purley, CR8 2NG – Demolition of existing house and the erection of a part four-storey and part three-storey block of six flats. Date of decision: 30/11/22. Result: Permission denied
- 35 and 37 Croham Valley Road, South Croydon, CR2 7JF – Outline application for the erection of two three-storey buildings with space for eight flats and associated parking and bike storage. Date of decision 11/11/22. Result: Permission denied
- 29 Hollymeoak Road, Coulsdon, CR5 3QA – Demolition of existing dwelling to erect a three-storey building of six flats and associated parking and landscaping. Date of decision: 26/07/22. Result: Permission denied
Applications withdrawn by the developer
- Kempfield House, 1 Reedham Park Avenue, Purley, CR8 4BQ – Demolition of existing homes and the erection of a four-storey apartment building comprising 13 flats, and six two-storey houses together with associated landscaping. Withdrawn
- Land R/O, 279-289 Selsdon Road, South Croydon, CR2 6PS – Demolition of existing garages and erection of a three-storey residential development of 8 flats. Withdrawn.
I hope this list shows the change that has come about. To those of you who supported Jason and me in making this happen – thank you.
