Sadly, the onslaught on Purley's attractive collection of large family homes continued last night, when the Labour-dominated planning committee waved through another two planning applications, at 1 Smitham Bottom Lane (16 flats) and 98 Higher Drive - in Kenley ward, though its postal address is Purley - another 9 flats.
There were passionate speeches from local residents against both these applications; they cited real practical difficulties such as with drainage, inadequate parking, being totally out of character with the surrounding area. There's also the problem of the total lack of necessary infrastructure improvements to support the huge increase in population, and the Purley pool remains closed despite many thousands of residents petitioning for it to be re-opened.
Purley is continuing to supply nearly 50% of the total new housing for the whole of Croydon, and since 2019, some 70 large family homes in Purley have been condemned to be replaced by blocks of flats, of which many remain unsold. This growth is completely unsustainable and it's time for change.. in planning policy as well as in so many other things.
