Purley Oaks railway station to be turned into 79 flats

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

A car showroom near Purley Oaks railway station will be replaced with a block of 79 flats.

A four to eight-storey building will be built at 43A Brighton Road, currently home to Robins and Day car dealership.

The plans were given the go-ahead by Croydon council’s planning committee on Thursday of last week, despite 143 public objections.

It will be made up of one, two and three-bedroom flats, of which 25 would be offered as affordable housing.

There will also be 25 car parking spaces and 144 bicycle parking spaces.

To improve biodiversity on the site it will include a ‘green roof’, nest boxes for sparrows and living walls and planters.

It also includes 400sqm of retail space on the ground floor.

But some locals think that the building is not suitable for the area, although they agree the showroom should be replaced with housing.

Resident Matt Figgis said: “We want to express our support for the change of use on the site we believe mixed use residential and commercial use would make better use of the site than the existing car showroom.

“The height of the building is excessive, does not adhere to local planning guidance and would cause overlooking and overshadowing.

“It would increase vehicle use in the area and the requirement for on street parking in surrounding streets would worsen air quality, noise levels and congestion.

“At eight storeys it would tower over neighbouring properties and dominate the area, it would be an eyesore we would lose privacy, sunlight and be impacted by wind channelling.”

But Nick Lawrence, planning manager at developer Aitch Group, said the new building would provide a ‘vibrant’ welcome to visitors to South Croydon.

Addressing concerns, he said: “These proposals meet the maximum car parking standards as set out in the London Plan.

“We’ve addressed concerns about sunlight and daylight and impacts have been minimised through design.

“Neighbouring houses will maintain very good sunlight.”

Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown ward member, Councillor Simon Hoar, said he used to live opposite the showroom and agreed it should be redeveloped.

But he opposed this scheme, saying: “I think it is too tall and there will be a negative impact to neighbours.

“There is going to be a massive problem with parking impacted on a main road.”

The plans were given approval with seven votes in favour to three against.

Pictured top: The plans for the new flats