This was an unusual enquiry. I spend much of my time fighting totally inappropriate planning applications all over Purley, advising residents how to object, preparing speeches for Planning Committee, and then watching in disbelief as my carefully crafted arguments are dismissed on the grounds that "Croydon needs more homes". Indeed Croydon does, but Purley certainly doesn't!
Purley is currently supplying about 50% of the new home requirement for the WHOLE of CROYDON without a penny being spent on new infrastructure such as schools, surgeries etc; this madness is clearly unsustainable in the long term, and even in the medium term.
This query was different - a resident had already sold his house to a developer under an option agreement which was subject to receipt of planning permission within a certain period. Despite having signed the agreement, he seemed surprisingly unaware of how the system worked.and he wanted me to tell him when permission was likely to be granted. As a councillor, you have to treat all residents equally, but I was genuinely unable to help in this case, so I advised him to contact the company to whom he'd sold out.
