PLANNING - NON-RESIDENTIAL APPLICATIONS NEARBY

To confirm the status of a “SUBMITTED” application, click on the planning application number below which will take you to Croydon Council’s Planning website. Any written representations on a planning application, either objecting, neutral, or objecting, can be made on line, by clicking on the “Comments” tab on the Council’s website. Or you can e-mail development.management@croydon.gov.uk or write to; Development Management, Place Department, London Borough of Croydon, Bernard Weatherill House, 8 Mint Walk, Croydon, CR0 1EA within 21 days of the “Latest Neighbour Consultation Date.” Applications when granted, are only valid for 3 years from the date of the decision.

Purley Baptist Church Sites and 17 storey Tower

Redevelopment Site

APPEAL ALLOWED by Secretary of State 9/7/20

Second Public Inquiry took place from 3 to 6 December 2019

DECISION OF SECRETARY OF STATE (MHCLG) QUASHED BY THE HIGH COURT ON 1 APRIL 2019;

LEGAL CHALLENGE LODGED BY THE DEVELOPER against the Secretary of State (MHCLG), the London Borough of Croydon & the GLA 14/1/19;

THE COUNCIL’S DECISION OVERTURNED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE 3/12/18 - APPEAL DISMISSED (PLANNING PERMISSION REFUSED);

PUBLIC INQUIRY took place from 9 January 2018;

CALLED IN BY SECRETARY OF STATE 12/4/17;

GRANTED BY LBC 15/12/16 Purley Baptist Church and Hall, Banstead Road, 1-4 Russell Hill Parade, Russell Hill Road and, 2-12 Brighton Rd, & 1-9 Banstead Rd – 16/02994/P 13 Jun 2016 - Demolition of existing buildings on two sites; erection of3/17 storey building comprising 114 flats community and church space and a retail unit on Island Site and a 3/8 storey building comprising 106 flats on south site.

Public Inquiry held on 3 to 6 December 2019

Update 14/12/19

The second Public Inquiry for the 17 storey Purley tower and associated development took place between 3 and 6 December 2019. The Planning Inspector was Mr Paul Jackson BArch RIBA. The RRA and six other local Residents' Associations again acted as the Rule 6 Party.

The RAs (Rule 6 Party) held two useful meetings with the Purley Baptist Church and the developer Thornsett in June and October and we agreed a certain number of points which were not raised at the latest Inquiry. However the main matters of dispute still outstanding and are not agreed, which the Inspector discussed at the Inquiry. These are primarily;

1. Effect of the proposals on the character and appearance of the area;

2. The height of the tower, together with overshadowing to Purley District Centre and wind tunnel affect to surrounding streets; [The Rule 6 Party does not agree that some of the residential units should be housed within a 17 storey tower. The Rule 6 Party considers the units should be spread over both sites, without the need for a 17 storey tower];

3. Consistency with Development Plan policies;

4. Impact on heritage assets;

5. Vehicular access/exit to and from Russell Hill Rd on the island site;

6. Air Quality – principally in relation to 5 above, associated air quality with traffic movements to and from the island site and with further updates from the parties generally.

New updated documents/statements including opening and closing statements from the Rule 6 Party can be viewed on Croydon Council's website.

Photo credit (and source) below viewed from Brighton Rd - Proctor & Matthews Architects:

The two CGIs below, taken from Croydon Council's website and ‘Andrew Matthews Supplemental Proof of Evidence dated November 2019' show the scheme from Banstead Rd by the Library and from Brighton Rd by Tesco.

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SUBMITTED Land at 3-5 Barrowsfield (Limpsfield Rd) - 24/03437/FUL - 23 Oct 2024 - Erection of 6no. terraced dwellinghouses following demolition of Nos. 4 & 5 Barrowsfield.

GRANTED (see below) 26-52 Whytecliffe Road South & Purley Station Car Park - 21/01753/FUL - 07 Apr 2021 - Demolition of the existing three terraces of houses, redevelopment of these and the existing surface level car park. Erection of a part 6/part 8/part 9 storey building and separate part 4/part 5 storey building to provide 238 residential units together with replacement station car park, together with ancillary community indoor space, disabled car parking, communal amenity space, all for the residents and improvements to the public realm on Whytecliffe Road South. Granted Committee 4/4/24 - subject to legal agreement This application was granted by the Planning Committee on 4 April 2024. The application is still subject to the completion of a legal agreement.The site is opposite the Purley multi storey car park and former leisure centre.

SUBMITTED 823 - 825 Brighton Road Purley (former Milk & More Depot -proposed new M&S Foodhall) - 23/04071/FUL - 16 Nov 2023 - Partial retention of 823 Brighton Road together with demolition of structures to the rear and no.825 to provide a mixed-use development comprising a single retail unit (Class E) fronting Brighton Road together with light industrial / Studio space (Use Class E) for a Creative and Cultural Enterprise Centre to the rear. Creation of new vehicular access and loading bay onto Brighton Road and car park (70 spaces). Installation of 2 totem signage columns and other associated works.

Purley Leisure Centre Complex

Updated 18/1/25

New Proposals for the Redevelopment of Purley Leisure Centre and Multi-Storey Car Park;

Seven local Residents’ Associations (RAs) in and around the Purley area have got together to look at the controversial planning application from Polaska to demolish the multi-storey car park and current closed leisure centre in Purley, and to erect new buildings of 5 to 12 storeys high and to build a new leisure centre, an Integrated Retirement Community comprising a mix of Specialist Older Persons Housing and Care Accommodation for older people, car parking, and associated works.

Whilst all the RAs are very keen to see a new leisure centre built in Purley, serving our area, we believe this should not be at any cost.  In addition, to our concerns about the financial stability of the developer and the height of the buildings, which do not comply with the current Croydon Local Plan, we are particularly concerned about the loss of the 424 car parking spaces currently available in the public multi-storey town centre car park, serving the town.

In the new development, there will only be 50 parking spaces available for public use, including 5 disabled parking bays. There will also be 28 parking spaces available for the Integrated Retirement Community, including 4 disabled spaces which, although initially will be available for public use, will revert to the Retirement Community once the apartments have been built and occupied, if they need them. Effectively, this means there will not be an increase in the number of car parking spaces from the previous plans submitted. There will only be 50 public spaces in comparison to the current 424 spaces. The RAs believe some of these 50 spaces will also be reserved for electric vehicle charging, as well as 5 disabled spaces. There will be no priority for users of the leisure centre.

Additionally, planning permission has been granted for the redevelopment of the Purley railway station car park for 238 flats and up to 9 storeys high, plus a new smaller station car park, which is also on Whytecliffe Road South. We believe the loss of the 374 spaces from the multi-storey car park together with the reduction of spaces available after the development of the Purley Station site will surely have a significantly detrimental effect on the retail trade in Purley Town Centre. We know Purley has excellent public transport links, but we also know that many of the surrounding areas containing the customers who come to Purley, do not.

This belief is amplified by the parking projections in the application which show there is a deficit of 14 spaces at peak time in Purley once the 374 spaces are gone. This assumes the Tesco Car Park will not be available to take the users currently using the multi-storey, an eventuality the Council admits is a possibility in the long term.  Of course, these figures do not include future users of the leisure Centre (which has been closed since 2020), or the increase in the number of patients using Purley Hospital.  There has been a large increase in the diagnostics at the hospital with a resulting increase in patient numbers, many of whom will need to drive there, and at a time when the hospital has reduced its parking spaces available.

Additionally, a new significantly larger Mosque is currently being built on Whytecliffe Road South. When planning permission was granted in March 2021, it was inferred in the reports that their members would be able to park in the Purley multi-storey car park, the Purley station car park and Tesco car park. This will not be the case for this much reduced Council car park.

The seven RAs believe it is very difficult to see how there will be sufficient parking spaces for the users of the leisure centre, hospital, railway station and Mosque, in addition to people wanting to eat and shop in the town after the completion of all these developments and we believe it could be the ‘death knell’ for some shops and restaurants in Purley town centre, through lack of custom. Also, can the leisure centre be viable with so little prioritised parking?

Please consider objecting to these new proposals by midnight on Thursday 6 February 2025 on this link to the Croydon Council’s planning website

Information from; Riddlesdown RA, Hartley & District RA, East Coulsdon RA, Selsdon RA, Croham Valley RA, Old Coulsdon RA, and  Coulsdon West RA.

SUBMITTED Purley Leisure Centre 50 High Street Purley - 24/00775/FUL - 15 Mar 2024 - Demolition of the existing buildings and erection of buildings of 5 to 12 storeys to provide a leisure centre (Use Class F2), commercial unit (Use Class E), an Integrated Retirement Community comprising a mix of Specialist Older Persons Housing and Care Accommodation for older people (Use Classes C2 and C3), car parking, landscaping, and associated works.

This application is for a new leisure centre, plus 220 Later Living flats- split; 123 independent living units, 57 assisted living units and 40 full time care suites. There will be 27 car parking spaces for the flats (including 4 disabled spaces). There will only be 50 short term public parking spaces (including 5 disabled spaces). The public consultation ended on 25 April 2024.

Update 11/1/25 - New and revised plans and documents have been submitted by the applicant and further comments need to be made by 6 February 2025. The provision of further public parking appears not to have been increased from 50.

Update 16/5/24

As residents will be aware, proposals have been put forward by Polaska Assets Ltd and the Council to demolish the existing 424 space multi-storey car park and swimming pool in Purley, and build a new swimming pool and gym, plus circa 245 'Later Living' flats (mainly for rent and with a small car park - now 220 flats) and a short term public car park, circa 50 spaces. The RRA along with six other local Residents Associations (RAs) have come together, to express some concerns to both the Executive Mayor, Jason Perry and Chris Philp MP, who are both in favour of the scheme.

Whilst the RAs are keen to see a new swimming pool and gym built, we are concerned about the huge reduction in the public car park numbers, and the possible effect this could have on the Purley District Centre and the height of some of the 'Later Living' blocks of flats. The seven RAs have written a number of times to the Executive Mayor to raise our concerns.

Representatives from the seven RAs met with the Executive Mayor, three Ward Cllrs and Chris Philp MP on 23 April. The RAs raised a number of comments from our objection letter which was submitted to the Planning Dept just after the meeting. Our primary concern is the much reduced public parking for Purley town centre from 424 parking spaces to just 50 spaces.

More details can be seen on Polaska Assets website on this link

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