Croydon nursery could be turned into private flats

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

A former Croydon nursery could soon be redeveloped into a flat with 10 private bedrooms.

A developer has applied to change a property at the back of Lindfield Road in Selhurst into homes.

In the 1990s the site was home to a scout hall which was changed into a nursery in 2017.

A planning application submitted to Croydon council shows the applicant wants to replace the now empty nursery with an eight-person flat.

Special permission is needed for properties which house more than five tenants of separate households who share bathrooms or kitchens with other tenants.

A statement on the application shows the developer wants to split the building up into eight separate rooms and suggests the work has already been carried out.

The application said: “The new bedrooms have been finished to a high standard. The floorspace for the proposed rooms would exceed the minimum room size requirement.

“They are of sufficient size with each providing satisfactory room size and would be served by adequate outlook and light.”

The new development would not change the outside of the building and the applicant claims it would not have a “detrimental impact” on neighbours. If approved, the building would be managed to “keep [a] high level of maintenance and monitoring” it adds.

According to the planning application there would be space for eight cars to park as well as space for cycle storage in the front of the building.

The application was validated by Croydon council on Tuesday and public consultation will run until January 27.

The council’s planning department is expected to make a decision by February 28.

Pictured top: The old nursery off Lindsfield Road could be turned into a HMO if a planning application is approved (Picture: Croydon council planning portal)