Plan for two tower blocks on site of former Croydon College car park

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

A 49-storey tower where residents share their kitchens is planned beside a 44-floor skyscraper.

The massive block of more than 800 ‘co-living’ flats will be built on an old Croydon College car park – and there will only be parking for disabled residents.

It will be a part 49, part 34-storey tower containing 817 co-living as well as 120 normal flats offered as shared ownership.

The block will have residents living in small self-contained rooms and sharing communal spaces including a gym, residents’ lounge, library, party kitchens and a cinema room.

The 20-29sqm rooms will have a kitchenette and en-suite bathroom.

The plans have been put forward by Tide Construction, the company behind 101 George Street – two towers of 44 and 38 storeys which are nearing completion and sit over the road from this new development.

And, like this development, it will be a modular construction, with the building made up off-site and transported into Croydon.

The plans were unanimously approved by Croydon council’s planning committee on Thursday.

At the meeting Simon Toplis from HTA Design said: “Residents will be those seeking a greater sense of community and belonging in their lives. We believe this will be people of all ages and backgrounds, including key workers and graduates.

“But equally older people looking for more sociable and neighbourly places to live.”

The plans are part of the Fair Field Masterplan which includes a range of developments on land between Fairfield Halls and Croydon College.

The approved plans from Tide Construction also include a colonnade pathway between East Croydon and College Green for cyclists and pedestrians.

The plans also include 15 parking spaces for blue badge holders and space for 463 bicycles.

The developers expect the new building to be completed in 2022.

Top: An artist’s impression of the plans for the pair of blocks