Flat, 265 Portland Road, LONDON, SE25 4XB

alterations, change of use of existing retail unit (class E) and residential unit above (class C3) to provide supported living accommodation for up to 9 young adults leaving care (class C2), erection of single-storey rear extension, rear dormer extension and provision of 2x rooflights in front roofslope

Authority: London Borough of Croydon
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Change of use
Inspector: Courtney T

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the proposal would be contrary to the Council's strategic approach to the provision of supported accommodation for care leavers in the borough
whether the proposal would be contrary to local housing policies in respect of the loss of a residential unit smaller than 130 square meters
whether the proposal would harm the vitality and viability of the Portland Road/Sandown Road Shopping Parade in respect of the loss of a ground floor commercial unit
whether the proposal would provide adequate living conditions for the future occupiers of the building having particular regard to their specific needs
whether the proposal would provide adequate cycle storage

What decided it

The failure to establish an identified need for the specific type of supported accommodation proposed, combined with conflicts regarding loss of residential and commercial units and inadequate provision for the specific needs of future occupiers, meant the proposal conflicted with the development plan and material considerations did not indicate it should be decided otherwise.

Plan policies cited: Policy DM2.3, Policy DM2, Policy H12, Policy DM1, Policy SP2, Policy DM6, Policy DM5, Policy SP3, Policy DM10, Policy SP8, Policy DM29, Policy DM30, Policy T5

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.