PLANNING ISSUES

If you wish to investigate current or decided Planning Application you can do so on The London Borough of Croydon's website - just follow this link and fill in the details - address of, if you know it the Planning Application Number  omitting the year and the /P and only entering the five figure unique number. http://planning.croydon.gov.uk/DCWebPages/acolnetcgi.gov?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.pgesearch.

The Planning Portal have an Interactive House and an Interactive Terraced House on their website which can help guide you and give advice on what requires approval from the Local Authority and what is permitted development. You just need to point your pointer on screen to any part of the house and a short Guidance Note will appear from which you can follow the links to more detailed advice should you wish.:-

Specialist demolition contractors are still demolishing the Old Cane Hill Hospital buildings, which includes asbestos materials. They are re-cycling the bricks and roof tiles – Lot of demolition but still no firm idea or application although they have done much consultation with residents. They have assured Charlie that they do not intend to demolish the Water Tower unless it is found to be dangerous. They say they are keen to put application in, but no decision as to which option. – Hopefully The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) who have taken over English Partnership should be big enough to still build during a recession.

This gateway site into the town has been boarded up and building work from the original approval has ceased for some time but work seems to be currently taking place. The site has been tided up a little but there has been no other progress. Ww are worried over the quality of the materials to be used and the design of the building, not that something new should be built here.

The Corporation of London and Friends of Farthing Downs have put in a planning application for possible development near the old Tearooms. A planning application 10/02024 /P has gone into the Council for 'Alterations to size and layout of car park and provision of visitor gathering and interpretation area'. These will have to be on the footprint of the current toilet block and small display area as this area is Green Belt Land. There is a limit to what they will be allowed to do. The mobile kiosk did not work out and was of poor quality.

ECRA wrote objecting to the Planning Application Planning 07/01546/P  which was for 'Demolition of existing buildings; erection of 1 two storey, 2 three/four storey and 1 three storey buildings to provide a total of 34 two bedroom, 15 one bedroom and 6 three bedroom flats; closure of vehicular access onto Marlpit Lane and alterations to vehicular access onto Reddown Road; provision of associated parking spaces,cycle parking and dustbin enclosures' and was refused at The Development Control Committee Meeting of 5th July 2007. However they took this to Appeal to the Planning Inspector. Again ECRA wrote to the Planning Inspector objecting to the Application, However permission was granted through the Planning Inspectorate on 23rd January 2008. The developers are behind with some issues and no further action has been taken.

The London Borough of Croydon are discussing the possibility of a Leisure Centre / Swimming Pool. It has been rumoured that Waitrose are no longer interested in moving to the site in partnership with LBC. The information coming out is confusing and therefore this may or may not happen.

A new planning application - 10/01654/P  has been put in to the Council  for 'Demolition of the existing buildings; erection of a part three and part four storey building comprising 12 two bedroom flats and a block of 5 garages; provision of associated parking '  ECRA has written to the Council in support. of this application, as it did for the previous failed applications for this site because  we believe that the existing two properties are life expired and demolition and construction of the new high quality flats for purchase is a good use of the site. and that Coulsdon is lacking in one and two bedroom quality flats that are suitable for both young professional people and/or older couples who want to down size, but remain in the area as long as this does not result in over development and out of character buildings.

Aldi Supermarket are in discussion with The London Borough of Croydon to develop this empty side but there is no additional new information. Previous planning applications have been turned down by LBC as out of keeping. There is ongoing discussion with Planning Officers but no application. The Site is being used as site office and storage for LBCs Contractor whilst regeneration works taking place in the Town Centre.  It has been noticed that the site is up for sale.  We await further developments

Sainsbury obtained Planning Permission to build a supermarket on 6th December 2007 under Planning Application 07/03434/P  on the old Pinewood site but this was subject to a S.106 Agreement. The permission was for 'Demolition of existing building; erection of a six storey building with roof garden comprising a retail unit, 1 four bedroom, 7 three bedroom, 12 two bedroom and 6 one bedroom flats; formation of vehicular access onto Station Road and provision of associated parking'. to build but nothing is progressed. Although Pinewood has gone, Jemca, a Toyota dealer has a short term lease. We have heard nothing Official from Sainsbury’s but possibly starting June 2009. Now a year behind schedule already. They are to make a decision in May, but the start date has been put back. Currently they say they should start work in the summer 2009 but now that the site has been leased out for 5 years development on this site is unlikely to take place.  However, Sainsbury's do say they are still interested in Coulsdon for one of their stores.  We await developments.

Despite the Planning Application (08/02723 ) being approved on the 9th October 2008 there has been little action as yet  and the concrete base is as far has been achieved!!.Terry Lenton says the order is in for it to be done but no confirmed date despite promises. Chris Wright has said on way. Hopefully this will be finished and available for use once the Regeneration works in the Town Centre is completed. However, Coulsdon West Councillors say that the installation is being held up because of problems with EDF connecting the power supply.  EDF say that a site survey was carried out on 5th June and work would be scheduled to begin once payment was received from the Council. It is now 2 years since Coulsdon had toilets which were closed due to persistent vandalism.