Croydon residents ‘devastated’ over proposed blocks of flats in quiet street

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

More than 120 people in Pollards Hill have objected to “terrible” plans for a house being knocked down to make way for a block of flats.

Yellow signs backing a campaign against a new development can been seen in the tree-lined street, Pollards Hill South.

A developer wants to replace a detached house with block of six flats along with a pair of detached houses at the back of the plot.

Danielle Denton and Adam Ingram live opposite the planned flats and are leading a campaign against the development.

The couple have already had to pay thousands of pounds underpinning their home as it has suffered badly from subsidence – sinking into the ground.

They fear more developments in the road will make this issue worse.

Adam, 40, said: “This is the thin end of the wedge, if we don’t make it clear there is strong opposition it will just happen to more houses.

“We have nothing against the neighbours on a personal level, this is about the community standing together against over-development, we want our feelings considered.”

Danielle, 51, who has lived in the road all her life said: “I felt devastated. I personally have nothing against flats if they are in keeping with the area.

“The proposed flats will come right over the top of the houses it will mean a loss of sunlight to neighbours and even to our rear garden.”

The plans were submitted to Croydon council on October 26 and have so far attracted 127 public objections.

Neighbour Andrew Jacob said there are other plans for flats in the road which have either been approved or submitted.

He added: “If they all go through that is 58 parking spaces and 127 bedrooms and the resultant loss of trees which are needed for the drainage.”

Other residents in the road say that they regularly receive offers from developers looking to buy their homes.

Pat Barlow, 78, who has lived in the road for 50 years said the flats would be “terrible” for the area.

She added: “This is like a little haven, we are worried about the congestion, the road can’t cope with all the lorries coming up.”

Over the road from where the flats could be built lives Remziye Latif who moved in three years ago.

She said: “I chose to live here because it reminds me of the countryside, this is a quiet area and the noise and parking issues will be terrible.”

The plans were submitted by OB Architecture on behalf of Jason Day.

The application includes parking for eight cars and 10 cycle spaces.

A planning statement reads: “The apartment building is conceived as a modern re-imagining of the varied collection of post-war detached dwellings along Pollards Hill South.

“The houses to the rear follow a similar palette of materials and a similar architectural language to create harmony
and consistency to the scheme.”

OB Architecture was contacted for comment.