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Focus Autumn 2001 - Menu - Index -
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Planning Group Report
Although we can see work progressing on the Centrale shopping
centre (Drummond Centre extension) and the controversial Grants
scheme, during the first part of 2001 there have been few significant
planning applications affecting Central Croydon. The principal
one proposed a massive 3-12 storey extension to the Croydon Park
Hotel comprising apartments, and fronting Addiscombe Grove and
Fairfield Road. We strongly opposed this for such reasons as
bulk, excessive height, loss of green open space, and inappropriate
design and materials - the walls of brick and rendered concrete
clashing with the brick walls of the hotel. We also opposed the
replacement of "Ridgehanger" and "Ridge Cottage"
in Park Hill Rise by 11 terraced houses in two rows because of
the loss of these picturesque houses, over development and harmful
impact on the visual character of the area.
On the vacant site at 82-90 Park Lane, which used to be occupied
by houses converted into offices, there are new proposals to
erect a 6-storey block of flats of modern design with a curved
metal roof instead of the previous proposal for offices. We welcome
this, but the site is perhaps of more interest as part of Croydon's
Saxon cemetery; the front part has already been excavated, whilst
English Heritage controversially opposed this on the car park
site to the rear, despite potential damage to such remains as
brooches and glass beakers during building operations. Another
scheme indicating the recession in the office market is a proposal
to convert the former Wates offices at Norbury into flats with
the addition of an extra two floors on top.
As you may have seen in the local press, we have opposed proposals
to replace two adjacent Victorian houses in the Birdhurst Rise
Local Area of Special Character by blocks of flats. The applicant
subsequently submitted a further application for flats designed
as mock Victorian houses, Although an improvement, it would still
be detrimental to the character of the area and we await the
Council's decision with interest.
We considered alterations to Addington Palace to allow hotel
use. We thought that they are possibly too drastic as they involve
adding new staircases at both sides of the central part, blocking
a row of windows, and providing extra accommodation in the roof
space, requiring the addition of 5 dormer windows. However, they
were designed by a leading firm of conservation architects and
so we decided to leave the decision on their acceptability to
English Heritage and Croydon Council. We welcome plans to restore
the other listed Lion Lodge on Spout Hill and these would involve
the re-instatement of windows and the addition of an extension
stretching out at an angle along the wall to the rear.
We have followed the controversy in Selsdon over the application
to erect a new "Sainsbury" store with a replacement
library and day centre located on top of a new community hall,
and linked to 239 car parking spaces - mostly underground - and
alterations to the busy road junction. Members of the Planning
and Transport Groups managed to attend public meetings organised
by the Selsdon Residents' Association, where the general feeling
was strong opposition to the scheme. Although we found the design
quite acceptable, we have sent a letter of objection, mainly
on transport grounds, whilst we are also concerned about such
issues as the potential adverse impact on the rest of Selsdon.
There have been the typical crop of proposals affecting the
Webb Estate Conservation Area in Purley. A further application
was submitted for the demolition of an original house at 3 Briar
Hill and its replacement by a large classical style mansion,
and regrettably the house was later demolished. We opposed the
demolition of another original house at 2 Rose Walk, also proposed
to be replaced by a large mansion, but we did not object to the
construction of a new house on vacant land next to "Hillcroft"
in Rose Walk or the replacement of a non-original house at 26
Rose Walk. Unfortunately there is still no sign of an updated
Proposals (Policy) Statement from the Council for this Conservation
Area.
Finally, we have been interested to see the first steps by
the Council in preparing a Development Strategy for Purley covering
both transport and planning matters, including possible replacement
of the library and the future of the two former "Sainsbury"
stores. However, at present only the objectives are outlined
and they depend on a possible move by Transport for London to
alter Banstead Road to two-way traffic with a reduction of traffic
on Russell Hill.
John Cunningham
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