Charity urges council to leave green spaces undeveloped

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

A countryside charity has urged a local authority to protect precious green space and ban building on six key sites in the borough.

Croydon council earmarked the areas for 42,000 homes appear in a review of the borough local plan which runs up to 2039.

But countryside charity CPRE, formerly the Campaign to Protect Rural England, has called on the council to exclude six sites earmarked for development. Some are on playing fields and other green spaces.

It said these sites were in areas with poor local transport so would also increase traffic in the borough.

A statement from the charity reads: “We believe the council could demonstrate greater ambition for increasing the amount of green space in Croydon.

“For example, new parks could be created in areas of the borough with not enough green space by converting ‘grey space’ (roads, parking, hard-standing) into ‘street parks’.

“We would like the council to ensure any new housing developments or estate regeneration ‘infill’ schemes do not leave residents with inadequate provision of green and communal open space.”

The charity does not want to see housing built on land across from North Downs Road in New Addington, Heath Clark playing fields in Waddon, land at Poppy Lane in Shirley, part of Purley Way playing fields, Coome Farm in Oaks Road and Stroud Green Pumping Station in Shirley.

There were more than 3,000 responses to an initial consultation on the plan in 2021. It is due to be adopted in 2023.

The latest consultation on the review closed on Thursday, February 17. In the spring it will be submitted to the secretary of state for examination.

Proposed changes to the plan include three areas for potential development of homes and community facilities at Purley Way, East Croydon Station and its surrounding area, and North End Quarter, Croydon.

Councillor Oliver Lewis, cabinet member for culture and regeneration, said: “We’ve reviewed our local plan to put Croydon in a strong position for a sustainable future that benefits all.”