Residents lose battle as town hall gives green light to build flats on green space in Norbury
By Tara O’Connor Local Democracy Reporter
A block of flats will be built on a green space in Norbury.
A planning application to build the homes between Covington Way and Crescent Way was the subject of a campaign by residents who said the land is used by the community for street parties and children to play on.
The plans from Croydon council-owned developer Brick by Brick were given the green light by the planning committee on Thursday, July 30.
Initially the company was thinking about building 15 homes on the site but this was reduced in response to local uproar.
At the meeting, resident Andrew Ingermells said: “Protecting green spaces matters just as much as homes, if not more. This triangle has a covenant on it and Croydon council is also applying to protect it as local green space for its green grid, so we can’t understand why the council’s own officials have stretched the rules on every significant aspect of this application.”
The plans attracted 87 public objections.
In a report, the council’s planning officers describe the land as “an important asset that is not surplus to requirement”.
But it adds that retaining 500 square metres of the land would “preserve the look and feel of the area and also provide sufficient and usable space
for those important community gatherings”.
Spokeswoman for Brick by Brick Sarah Odu said: “It is understood that the site’s main use is one of visual amenity, the usability of the site is limited due to its steep nature which restricts exercise and children’s play with respect to ball play.”
She added that people are more likely to use Norwood Grove Recreation Ground opposite Covington Way.
Ms Odu said: “Due to extensive public consultation is much smaller than at the pre-application stage, the proposal has been contained within the steepest part of the site, this allows for the rest of the site to be retained for visual purposes and recreational activities, also allows for the installation of benches as requested by residents and the retention of all three mature trees.”
But Councillor Ian Parker described the development as “inappropriate” for the area.
Designed by Sarah Wigglesworth Architects, the four-storey building will be made up of five two-bedroomed flats and four one-bedroomed flats, of which three are expected to be offered as shared ownership homes.
The development will also include five car parking spaces and 18 bicycle parking spaces.
The plans were approved with five votes to four.
Picture: Residents of Crescent Way and Covington Way do not want to see a green space redeveloped. Credit: Tara O’Connor
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I have been a resident in my block of flats for many years. There is a bigger back story to what I am about to say.
About a year ago I saw a surveyor in Spa Woods, I asked what he ws doing. He flicked me off with some story about making the area a bit more “resident friendly”. I told him there was a covenant on the woods and he promptly disappeared.
The council bought some flats at a knock down price, which I know, but as I said there is a bigger backstory to this post.
Today an independent surveyor asked if he could gain entry to my flat, the flats are showing huge cracks in parts.
This cheaply bought block is right opposite an area of greenland that the council want to build on.
If I bring together the back story, the agreed building on the opposite land and the surveyor in the woods, I have an inkling that these 3 things could be brought together and a part of the Great North Wood could become a huge estate, where undoubtably a lot of money will be made by someone.
If you are interested in what I have to report then I would be more than happy to fill you in on what I can only call a travesty in the making.
I would rather speak to a reporter about this as I feel it is important