Huge 26-storey “co-living” building planned for East Croydon

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

A block of nearly 500 “co-living” flats could soon be built near East Croydon railway station.

A proposal for the part 26-story part 13-storey building was heard by the council’s planning committee on Thursday of last week.

The pre-application from Fifth State lays out initial plans for the development, which would include 77 affordable flats alongside 494 “co-living” flats.

It would see City Link House in Addiscombe Road, previously occupied by NatWest, demolished.

The office block currently houses the Fairfield Business School, which council officers have said the applicant should try to find an alternative space for, or accommodate it in the new development.

Each unit would be between 21 and 34 square metres and have a bed, small living room, kitchenette and en-suite bathroom.

The building would then include spaces for working, kitchens, private dining spaces, a gym, yoga studio and cinema.

But these plans were drawn up before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The application said that work on how to address a ‘lockdown scenario’ was being worked on, and includes one-way systems, single use of lifts and enhanced cleaning.

Alex Springer, director of Fifth State, said he thinks that the development would bring trade into the area.

He told the meeting: “Our residents spend a lot of money, being young and going out, and due to the all-inclusive rents they can go out and spend more in the borough.”

Architect for the scheme Murray Levinson described the proposal as having a positive impact on the public realm including closing off ‘awful subways’, including one in Altyre Road which would be filled in to be used as a loading bay.

The 77 regular flats would be in the 13-storey tower, with an outdoor space including children’s play area on the roof.

When asked at the meeting, the applicant would not say the rent that would be charged for the flats but said it would be affordable for those earning between £30-35,000.

As it is a pre-application at this stage, the applicant will go back to the drawing board before submitting full plans in the coming months.

Earlier this year a part 49, part 34-storey tower containing 817 co-living as well as 120 normal flats offered as shared ownership from Tide Construction was approved for the old Croydon College car park.

Pictured top: Croydon Town Hall