I received a stream of emails into my inbox over the last few weeks from residents who live on or near Hartley Old Road, distressed about an upcoming planning meeting. A planning application for 11 Hartley Old Road was due to be considered and planning permission was being sought for construction of 9 flats over three floors on a plot that currently contains one family home. This planning application was referred to the committee over a number of issues including gross over development of the site.
Designated as a Local Area of Special Character in 2013, Hartley Old Road is a quiet road in Purley, populated by detached family homes. The Hartley area is characterised by generally large, detached houses of single and two-storey dwelling. Buildings sit in large plots and are set back from the street.
The position put forward, usually by the Labour Councillors at these meetings, are often “We need more affordable homes to be built for the young and first time buyers”. Prices for these apartments often start from £450,000-hardly affordable? Second to this, when asked why Purley has received a torrent of planning applications that are almost always approved, the blame is shifted to their dutifully abiding by the ‘London Plan’, a statutory development strategy drafted by the Mayor of London.
Meanwhile, the residents were and remain mournful, already predicting prior to the meeting the chaos that will descend on their area if the application is approved. A heartfelt speech was given by a resident who lives next door to the development, but his argument held no sway. Cllr Hale and Cllr Parker put forward evidence of discrepancies in this planning application but all comments however fell on deaf ears-tossed aside as immaterial to planning. This application, consequently, was predictably approved. The developers, Aventier, proudly advertise all their planning victories via their Facebook group, which you can view here; https://www.facebook.com/aventier/. They have collected rather a lot of Purley landholdings...
This planning meeting can be viewed here; https://webcasting.croydon.gov.uk/meetings/11397
