As some residents may have noticed, the local farmer (Church Farm Services) who have taken on the tenancy of the fields in Mitchley Ave and Rectory Park/Mitchley Hill have started to plough the farmland in preparation for sowing, “for long term grass leys this autumn and to cut it for hay and haylage next summer” (see our post below of 20 May 2017).

A number of residents have contacted the RRA to say that Public Footpaths have been ploughed and are now uneven. This is particularly so, […]

Some residents may have noticed, that some works are taking place on the farmland opposite the shops in Mitchley Ave.

It has been established via the Council that this work is bona fide and the new tenant of the land intends taking a hay crop on a commercial basis. The tenant has been made aware by the Council, of all the Tree Preservation Orders on trees around the field.

We have subsequently found out via our Facebook page who the new tenant is. […]

The RRA have been contacted over the last few days by some residents concerned about GL Hearn (Property Consultants) who spoke at the Croydon Local Plan hearing on Tuesday morning (23/5/17), on behalf of Bovis Homes.

Bovis were asking the Planning Inspector that Croydon Council remove the Green Belt status on the farmland in Riddlesdown (Mitchley Ave, Rectory Park/Mitchley Hill).

The RRA have been attending a number of the hearing sessions but we were not made aware this subject would be discussed on […]

Berkshire Homes have sold the plot of land in Dunmail Drive (r/o 36 – 60 Honister Heights) and opposite Riddlesdown Collegiate gates, at a Barnard Marcus Auction on 10 April 2017 for £110,000. The land was purchased for £148,000 in June 2014.

The land is Green Belt and was also subject to a recent Planning Inspector’s decision to dismiss the appeal for the building of 4 detached houses in 2013 (see update 17/12/13 below).

Now covered by Tree Preservation Orders Made by Croydon Council 

The RRA have been advised by Croydon Council that most of the woodland in Dunmail Drive, Mitchley Ave and Honister Heights are now covered by blanket Tree Preservation Orders (TPO’s). The Council have made these new TPO’s following the felling of many trees on land opposite the Collegiate gates in Dunmail Drive in August 2011 and May 2012, and the two subsequent planning applications on this Green Belt land for housing, both of which were refused […]

The RRA are aware that all the land owned by Taylor Wimpey, which comprises the farmland off Mitchley Hill, farmland off Mitchley Avenue, Mitchley Wood, and woodlands off Dunmail Drive and woodland in Honister Heights, is all currently on the market for freehold sale, either as one or in separate lots.

This land is all Greenbelt land and subject to current planning laws and is not available for development.

Update 17.9.09: The RRA has learnt that all the land has been purchased […]