Last night I addressed Croydon Council's Planning Committee speaking in opposition to a proposed development in the rear of 20-22 Gidd Hill.
My remarks are below, and you can watch the whole meetings deliberations on the Council's website.
This application is trying to pour a quart into a pint pot.
Residents in 131-151 Westleigh Avenue currently have an unobstructed green and pleasant view. Before the Planning Committee makes your decision please pull up Google Maps and you’ll see instead of the light, open and quiet end of the road many of them chose for family homes, the view out of the front windows will be onto the gable end of more houses – restricting light and increasing shadow. The tall houses would be just 13 metres from opposing properties, leaving residents overlooked and impacting privacy and light.
Therefore I believe it breaches the Material Consideration: Loss of light or overshadowing/Overlooking or loss of privacy
The immediate area is a dead end for vehicles. At the best of times it’s very hard to maneuver cars down this narrow road, but the addition of yet more residential vehicles into the community will make this intolerable – the Council has admitted this is at least an extra three vehicles. Not to mention the chaos during the construction phase and taking into consideration Emergency Vehicle access (this has been needed more than four times on this road this year alone).
As a result of vehicle congestion there are points on this end of Westleigh Avenue where residents are forced to walk in the road because of the obstructions to the narrow pavement especially at drop off and pick up times given the proximity to Chipstead Valley Primary School.
Therefore the following Material Considerations are impacted: Traffic generation, highway safety or adequacy of parking
Chipstead Valley Road had a terrible sewage leak just a fortnight ago – it’s a stones throw from these proposed new houses.
Excrement literally sprayed houses, pavements and vehicles along Chiptead Valley Road - the fourth time there’s been a sewage leak this year.
Thames Water are investigating the cause, but I believe consenting extra developments in this area must be taken very carefully, especially without ensuring adequate provision is given to cope with the increased population they would bring.
Therefore: Noise, smells and disturbance/Impact on local amenities
47 local people registered their objections to this application.
With a few days to go there was a flood of supporting comments which included contributions from as far away as Wallington, Whyteleafe and Sutton.
The true local community is overwhelmingly opposed to this, as Mr Booth eloquently expressed earlier. Do please listen to the community.
In terms of Material Considerations I believe the development fails the Layout and density of buildings test.
To repeat: this application is trying to pour a quart into a pint pot. Please listen to me, and listen to the community.
Sadly the Labour-dominated Planning Committee voted this application through despite the protestations of local people and local elected representatives.
The only way to change this is to change the Administration that currently runs Croydon Council - you'll get that chance in May 2022.
