50 Bishops Park Road, LONDON, SW16 5TS

Authority: London Borough of Croydon
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Roberts G

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
the effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers
whether the proposal secures an adequate mix of units, a good standard of accommodation and meets accessible housing requirements
whether the proposal protects and enhances biodiversity and mitigates for any loss including trees
whether the proposal includes measures to mitigate for any impact on highway safety, and includes appropriate provision for refuse storage, cycle parking and fire safety

What decided it

The significant harm to character and appearance, combined with substantial harm to neighbouring living conditions and multiple failures to meet development plan policy requirements, outweighed the housing benefits in a location where the Council could demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply.

The housing benefits and more efficient use of land were outweighed by the significant harm to character and appearance, the substantial harm to neighbouring occupiers' living conditions, and the failure to comply with development plan policies on housing mix, accessible housing, biodiversity, trees, highway safety, sustainable transport, refuse, cycling and fire safety.

Framework references: 71, 124, 130, 180

Plan policies cited: Policy D3 of The London Plan (March 2021), Policy D4 of The London Plan (March 2021), Policy D6 of The London Plan (March 2021), Policy D7 of The London Plan (March 2021), Policy T4 of The London Plan (March 2021), Policy T5 of The London Plan (March 2021), Policy T6.1 of The London Plan (March 2021), Policy D12 of The London Plan (March 2021), Policy SP2.7 of the Croydon Local Plan (February 2018), Policy SP2.8 of the Croydon Local Plan (February 2018), Policy DM1.1 of the Croydon Local Plan (February 2018), Policy SP4.1 of the Croydon Local Plan (February 2018), Policy DM10 of the Croydon Local Plan (February 2018), Policy DM13 of the Croydon Local Plan (February 2018), Policy SP8.3/15 & 16 of the Croydon Local Plan (February 2018), Policy DM27 of the Croydon Local Plan (February 2018), Policy DM28 of the Croydon Local Plan (February 2018), Policy DM29 of the Croydon Local Plan (February 2018), Policy DM30 of the Croydon Local Plan (February 2018)

Judgments cited: Bernard Wheatcroft Ltd v SSE [JPL 1082 P37]

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.