Higher Drive has seen a lot of change over the past 5 years with many family houses demolished and flats put up in their place.
The Planning Department at Croydon Council recently received a planning application for a change of use for one of these large blocks from 9 x3-bedroom dwellings to 9 x 3 bedroom HMOs. Local residents contacted us to discuss their concerns with this application. After further investigations and engagement with the Planning Team, Cllr Kolade objected to the application.
Just before Christmas, the Planning Department issued their decision and rejected it on the following grounds:
- The proposal would result in the loss of nine, three bedroom dwellings, for which there is an identified need in the borough. The development would therefore conflict with Policy DM1.2 and SP2.7 of the Croydon Local Plan (2018).
- The proposed development, by reason of not sufficiently demonstrating whether there would be an unreasonable impact on the parking stress level of the surrounding roads, would be to the detriment of the highway conditions of the area. As such, the proposal would be contrary to Policies SP8, DM29 and DM30 of the Croydon Local Plan (2018) and Policy T6 of the London Plan (2021).
- The proposed development would not provide adequate refuse and cycle storage facilities to serve the needs of future residents. The proposed development therefore fails to comply with the Croydon Local Plan (2018), in particular Policy DM13 and London Plan (2021) Policy T5, and the London Cycling Design Standards (2016).
- Insufficient information is provided on fire safety measures and therefore the proposal is contrary to Policy D12 of the London Plan (2021).
Further information on the planning application and decision notice can be seen on the Planning Portal under the reference: 23/04153/FUL.
(Cover image taken from planning application submitted on 23 January 2020 and available on the planning portal at 19/04119/FUL)
