103 - 107 Purley Downs Road, South Croydon, CR2 0RH

Demolition of three detached dwellings and erection of 15 houses plus a 3 storey block comprising 19 flats (34 units total) with 2 vehicular access points, car parking, private gardens and landscaping

Authority: London Borough of Croydon
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Major dwellings
Inspector: Coffey L

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the proposal would make adequate provision for affordable housing
Whether the proposal would make adequate provision for family dwellings
The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the site and the surrounding area with particular reference to the trees and hedges on the site
The effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of the occupants of 1, 3 and 5 Hill Barn and 43 Maywater Close, with particular reference to visual prominence, overlooking, and loss of sunlight and daylight
Whether the proposed development would make adequate provision for inclusive and accessible accommodation
Whether in the absence of a Fire Statement the proposal is acceptable
The effect of the proposal on protected species on the site
Whether the proposal would make adequate provision for car parking

What decided it

The cumulative failures to comply with development plan policies on affordable housing, family dwellings, character and appearance, neighbour amenity, protected species, accessible accommodation and fire safety, with no material considerations to justify departure from the development plan, necessitated dismissal of the appeal.

The benefits of housing delivery and family dwellings (moderate weight) were outweighed by considerable harm to character and appearance, unacceptable harm to neighbouring living conditions, failure to secure policy-compliant affordable housing, inadequate provision for accessible accommodation, insufficient protected species mitigation, and absence of a Fire Safety Statement, with no material considerations to justify departure from the development plan.

Plan policies cited: Policy SP2.4, Policy SP2.5, Policy SP2.7, Policy SP4.1, Policy SP4.2, Policy SP7.4, Policy DM1, Policy DM10.4, Policy DM10.5, Policy DM10.6, Policy DM10.8, Policy DM25, Policy DM27, Policy DM28, Policy DM29, Policy DM30, London Plan Policy H4, London Plan Policy H5, London Plan Policy D3, London Plan Policy D6, London Plan Policy D7, London Plan Policy D12, London Plan Policy G6, London Plan Policy T5, London Plan Policy T6.1

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.