Re: 20/05370/FUL
5 Smitham Downs Road, Purley, CR8 4NH – Demolition of existing dwelling, the construction of a part 4/part 5 storey residential building accommodating 20 flats, all together with vehicular accesses from Smitham Downs Road and The Vale, vehicle, and cycle parking, refuse provision and associated hard and soft landscaping.
Re: 20/05575/FUL
16 Smitham Downs Road, Purley, CR8 4NB – Demolition of existing dwelling, erection of a 3/4 storey building comprising 9 flats with basement car parking, landscaping, and amenity space.
You may be aware that there are two applications for completely inappropriate developments which would demolish the family homes at number 5 Smitham Downs Road and at number 16 Smitham Downs Road in order to make way for blocks of flats. These applications are being heard by Croydon Council’s Planning Committee on Thursday 15th July 2021 – the meeting starts at 6:30PM. The details are at the bottom of this page.
I have set out some of the details of my objections to these two applications below. Please do share this so that as many people as possible are aware of these latest two terrible schemes in our local area.
5 Smitham Downs Road:
In essence, my concerns with this scheme are as follows:
- The proposal for 20 new homes spread over five storeys in a block of flats would be a significant overdevelopment of this corner site due to its size, height, footprint, bulk and massing, which would be highly detrimental to the street scene.
- The design and type of the block of flats proposed to sit on this site is completely out of character with the single family detached and semi-detached homes currently adjacent to the site.
- The proposal fails to respect the local development pattern, layout and siting and completely dominates the plot; neighbouring properties are generously spaced and respect the trees and green character of the area.
- The contemporary design is more suited to an urban context rather than the leafy streets of suburban Coulsdon; it would stick out like a sore thumb.
- The site occupies an extremely prominent position on the corner of Smitham Downs Road and The Vale; this scheme will dominate and dwarf the adjoining dwellings.
- There would be a detrimental impact on adjoining occupiers due to overlooking and a loss of privacy.
- The proposed materials are not in keeping with the surrounding architecture. Rather, they jar with the existing architectural aesthetic and undermine the quality of the surrounding residential environment.
- There are concerns about the quality of amenity for occupiers in the basement units with respect to daylight and the single aspect unit.
- There is inadequate parking provision.
- The concreting over of garden space would lead to the loss of 6 trees and a group of trees, as well as the loss of natural vegetation and natural habitat.
- The cumulative impact of this development with other already approved intensive schemes upon local infrastructure such as drainage.
16 Smitham Downs Road
My concerns with this scheme are as follows:
- The proposal for 9 new homes spread over four storeys in a block of flats would be a significant overdevelopment of this corner site due to its size, height, footprint, bulk and massing, and would be highly detrimental to the street scene.
- The design and type of the block of flats proposed to sit on this site is completely out of character with the single family detached and semi-detached traditional design homes adjacent to the site.
- The proposal fails to respect the local development pattern, layout and siting and completely dominates the plot; neighbouring properties are generously spaced and respect the trees and green character of the area.
- The site occupies a very prominent position on the corner of Smitham Downs Road and Woodcrest Road and this scheme will dominate and dwarf the adjoining dwellings.
- There would be a detrimental impact on adjoining occupiers due to overlooking and loss of privacy
- There is inadequate parking provision for residents and visitors.
- The concreting over of garden space would lead to the loss of trees, natural vegetation, and natural habitat.
- The cumulative impact of this development with other already approved intensive schemes upon local infrastructure such as drainage.
If you share my concerns and haven’t commented to date then you can still do so up until the decision date via the Council’s website at https://new.croydon.gov.uk/planning-and-regeneration/planning/comment-or-object-planning-application
In the past when the Planning Committee has considered this kind of application the four Conservative councillors on the committee have voted against such inappropriate development, but the six Labour councillors have chosen to vote in favour. You may therefore also like to let the Labour Planning Committee members know of your concerns.
Their email addresses are:
Cllr Chris Clark – [email protected] – Chair of the Planning Committee
Cllr Leila Ben-Hassel – [email protected] – Vice Chair
Cllr Clive Fraser – [email protected]
Cllr Joy Prince – [email protected]
Cllr Jamie Audsley – [email protected]
Cllr Humayun Kabir – [email protected]
There is nothing in national planning law or policy requiring the council to pass applications such as this. Neighbouring Boroughs such as Sutton and Bromley do not pass applications like this, despite being subject to the same national policy.
I very much hope that this application will be refused and that you will find this information helpful.
Planning Committee Meeting Details
Thursday, 15 July 2021 at 6.30 pm in Council Chamber, Town Hall, Katharine Street, Croydon CR0 1NX
Members of the public are welcome to attend this meeting, however we recommend that you watch the meeting remotely via the following link: https://webcasting.croydon.gov.uk/croydon/meetings/12733
If you would like to attend in person please note that spaces are extremely limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis. If you would like to attend in person please email [email protected] by 5pm the working day prior to the meeting to register your interest.
