Former GP surgery can begin new life as a home for many – but not everyone is happy

By Harrison Galliven, Local Democracy Reporter

Croydon council has approved an application to convert a former GP surgery into a multiple-occupancy home for 13 residents.

The Victorian building at 39 Heathfield Road will now undergo a rear extension to accommodate 11 new bedrooms.

Members of Croydon council’s planning committee admitted they “reluctantly” supported the application to develop the property at a meeting last Thursday, as HMOs (houses of multiple occupation) were not their preferred style of housing.

Concerns over the potential for poor waste management were raised as a key concern from councillors, who feared the property could become “unsightly.”

In her comments, councillor Lara Fish told the chamber: “I don’t like HMOs, but that’s my personal point of view. I have seen how badly kept some are so I would welcome some very strict conditions on the upkeep both internally and externally.”

Councillors heard that at least five other HMOs are close to the site. Jose Sanchez Loureda, who spoke on behalf of the objecting South Croydon Community Association, called this an “oversupply.”

He added: “There is a saturation of HMOs in the area. There are at least five other HMOs in close proximity, although they do have different postcodes due to the street layout, this ignores the true potential for over-density as existing HMOs already meet the demand.”

While previous iterations of this application had made provision for the HMO to house 15 occupants, Mr Loureda believes the 13 occupants proposed in this application will still place undue stress on the surrounding public services. He also raised concerns over the risk of increased noise and disturbance.

This was a view shared by South Croydon ward councillor Danielle Denton, who said: “Thirteen residents, plus their visitors, will have a major impact on noise in a rather quiet residential street.”

Parking was also a particular bone of contention for councillors, with some suggesting that the new developments’ lack of parking provision was “going to impact surrounding streets, which are already under pressure.”

The property is a short distance from South Croydon station and the lower end of the South Croydon shopping district.

The building was most recently home to the Heathfield Surgery and the loss of a GP surgery was another issue raised as a concern.

While the NHS had previously provided a letter in 2018 stating the closed surgery did not require a replacement, he believes South Croydon has lost a valuable community facility. Mr Loureda said: “Given Croydon’s population growth and changing demographics a renewed assessment is necessary.”

The application approved last week will see the building undergo extensive alterations made to the basement and upper levels of the house, which will now house the 11 bedrooms and shared kitchen facilities. Crucially, it will also include a three-storey extension, dropping down to a one-storey extension at the back of the building.

Conservative councillor Michael Neal, the only member of the committee to vote against the application, said the new use was “not quite right.”

Jeremy Butterworth, a planning consult who spoke in support of the application said: “HMOs have a legitimate and important role to play in the delivery of additional housing for the borough, they also have a role to play in reducing pressure on other elements of the housing stock.

“Members will no doubt be aware of the pressures facing the young and single adults in Croydon who find it difficult to buy or rent accommodation, particularly in the south of the borough.”

Croydon councillors voted five to one in favour of approving the application. The applicant, listed as R Kasmani,  will still need to acquire an HMO license before residents move in.

Pictured top: 39 Heathfield Road, which has had hoardings in place since the old GP surgery closed in 2017 (Picture: Google Street View)