PlanningNR

This page covers local, non-residential planning applications, decisions and other matters of general interest. (Any written representations on the following should be made to the Planning Department, Croydon Council, Taberner House, Park Lane, Croydon CR9 1JT within 3/4 weeks of the date registered. However the Council will still accept written comments up to the date that a decision is made which is usually around 8 weeks after being registered.

All applications and plans can now be viewed on line on the following link to the
Council's website

Look up the application, to the week corresponding to when it was registered.

As from January 2010, new applications will contain the words ‘Planning link’. Clicking on this will take you to the Council Planning Application details.

O2 Mast, Lower Barn Road - click here for separate page

APPLICATION WITHDRAWN Atwood Primary School - 10/02174/LP - 06/07/2010 - Alterations and use of former nursery as childrens centre. Planning link

APPLICATION REFUSED Atwood Primary School - 10/02040/P - 24/06/2010 - Provision of additional parking bays. Planning link

APPLICATION GRANTED Atwood Primary School - 10/00804/P - 22/03/2010 - Alterations; erection of single storey classroom extension with activity/wet play area and covered way. Planning link

APPLICATION GRANTED Atwood Primary School - 09/02178/P - 07/08/2009 - Siting of temporary single storey single classroom building.

APPLICATION GRANTED Atwood Primary School - 10/00211/P - 02/02/2010 - Erection of single storey classroom building and alterations to vehicular access route. Planning link

APPLICATION GRANTED Atwood Primary School - 08/03421/P - 13/10/2008 - Erection of single storey infill extension to include library and two new music rooms.

APPLICATION GRANTED Fire Station, 128 Brighton Road, Purley - 09/01275/P - 27/05/2009 - (Full planning application) - Demolition of existing buildings; erection of a new fire station comprising appliance bay for two vehicles, three storey drill tower and ancillary accommodation

OUTLINE PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED Fire Station, 128 Brighton Road, Purley - 07/04580/P - 22/11/2007 - Demolition of existing buildings and erection of new fire station comprising appliance bay for two vehicles, three storey drill tower and ancillary accommodation.

APPLICATION GRANTED Purley Bury Bowls Club, 53 Purley Bury Avenue - 08/01530/P - 01/07/2008 - Erection of single storey extension to pavilion.

APPLICATION SUBMITTED Purley Oaks Highway Depot, 1 Riddlesdown Road, Purley - 09/03719/P - 05/01/2010 - Extension of waste and recycling centre into the Croydon highway depot at the rear to include the installation of new compactor units. Planning link

APPLICATION SUBMITTED Riddlesdown High School - 10/1750/P - 07/07/2010 - Erection of single storey extensions to provide canteen extension and new food technology department. Planning link

APPLICATION WITHDRAWN 30.11.09 Riddlesdown High School - 09/02562/P - 05/10/2009 - Erection of 15 metre high wind turbine.

APPLICATION GRANTED Riddlesdown High School - 09/00183/P - 30/03/2009 - Erection of a temporary single storey detached classroom building.

APPLICATION GRANTED Riddlesdown High School - 08/03762/P - 14/11/2008 - Demolition of single storey part of school; erection of two storey extension to provide additional classrooms, ancillary office and main entrance.

APPLICATION SUBMITTED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REQUIRED Former Sainsburys, 52 High Street, Purley - 08/03428/DT (Environmental Impact Assessment) - 13/10/2008 - Mixed use redevelopment.

APPLICATION GRANTED Land comprising The Former Propeller public house, Waylands Day Centre, Red Gates school and Waddon Infants School, Croydon (Replacement for Purley Pool) - 09/02856/P - 6/10/09 - Demolition of existing buildings; full planning permission for the erection of singe/two storey building for use as a leisure centre including the swimming pool, erection of two blocks (Block B 6/7 storeys, Block C 5/6 storeys) comprising a total of 45 one bedroom, 79 two bedroom and 30 three bedroom flats, erection of a 2/3 storey terrace of 23 four bedroom houses (perimeter housing), erection of a 2/3 storey building fronting Denning Avenue comprising 10 two bedroom flats and 59.24sqm of community office space, formation of vehicular accesses onto Denning Avenue and Purley Way and provision of associated car parking.

FORMER SAINSBURY'S STORE, SWIMMING POOL AND CAR PARK, 52 HIGH STREET, PURLEY

4-YEAR REPRIEVE for PURLEY POOL

Purley Swimming Pool, Gym and multi-storey car park that were previously planned to be closed last year prior to being demolished, are to stay open for another four years. The leader of Croydon Council, Cllr Mike Fisher, gave the news this week to Fred Wallis (an RRA Committee Member), who has led the campaign to keep a pool in Purley. At a meeting at the Pool on Tuesday Cllr Fisher and local Councillors Donald Speakman and Badsha Quadir met Fred and Wendy Smith, of Fusion, who run the pool for the Council.

Cllr Fisher gave the group the news that the decision had been made to keep the pool open for at least another four years. The hour-long meeting also toured the pool to discuss aspects of pool management such as cleaning and low level maintenance.

APPLICATION GRANTED Tesco Store, 8 Purley Road, Purley - 09/00165/P - 23/01/2009 - Siting of 10.6 metre high wind turbine in car park.

OTHER PLANNING ISSUES

LAINGS AND GREEN BELT MATTERS

See Chairman's Reports. Click here to view.

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Seismic testing at various sites in the south of the Borough (including along Rectory Park , Mitchley Ave and Downs Court Road to Purley Cross) 10/01539/DT - 14/05/2010 - Carrying out of seismic survey in various locations - Permission not required. Planning link

Phil Thomas writes:.... this seismic survey does cover some roads in our area and the Council have said they have no objection to it. The report does say it will be over a period of a few days only (unfortunately there are no plans on the link to show the line of route). However I have highlighted a few of the sentences from the Officer's report (John Lawson) which can be found on the "Documents tab" on the Council's link.

"The survey would be a vibroseis source. As the lines fall along public highway, specialist tractor units would be employed and a "stop-go" lollipop traffic control/management system would be employed. An information leaflet drop would be undertaken in the local area and a public notice displayed in the local press...”

We are investigating as to precisely what this means and will update this item when we have more information. Meanwhile, local geologist Martin Whitehead writes: I’m afraid I don’t know why this survey is being shot (that does not mean use of explosions or guns, it’s just a phrase harking back to when they used dynamite ‘shots’!!) Vibroseis is pretty harmless - It’s a really big truck with a very heavy iron plate underneath it. The plate is lowered every so often, lowered to the ground and it is shaken for a few short bursts - this generates a seismic signal that will be picked up further along the line of the survey by Geophones ...... the basic concern for people who live near a survey is: ‘will the vibration damage my property?’ I believe that this is a very low risk .... and it’s common within the UK as a whole.

UPDATE 21.6.10: THE COUNCIL REPLY TO COUNCILLOR LYNNE HALE’S REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Dear Cllr Hale,

John Lawson, the planning case officer, has prepared the note below to explain the purpose and nature of the seismic surveys. Please let me know if you require any further information.

Application 10/01539/DT –Carrying out of seismic surveys in the south of the Borough

This proposal was submitted on 14 May 2010 by TESLA-IMC International Ltd as a notification to LB Croydon of their intention to carry out seismic surveys along 3 of 11 lines which fall in the LB Croydon area, under Schedule 2, Part 22 and Class B of the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995.

The Council determined on 9 June 2010 that the proposal is “permitted development” under the terms of this Order.

TESLA-IMC have been instructed by an Energy/Oil company to carry out these surveys on an area of the North Weald which as well as Croydon, covers sites in Kent, Bromley and Sutton.

There are 3 survey lines in Croydon and these would be along the public highway. There would be a line of 5.85km in length along Limpsfield Road/Sanderstead Road; a line of 5.87km in length along Featherbed Lane, Gravel Hill and Coombe Lane, and a line of 9km in length along Kent Gate Way, Selsdon Park Road, Addington Road, Rectory Park, Mitchley Avenue and Downs Court Road to Purley Cross.

The first two lines would be surveyed over 2 days and the other line over 4 days. The Company expect to be in the Croydon area next month (July)

The survey would be carried out by specialist tractor units carrying out vibration tests along the survey lines. A “stop-go” lollipop traffic control/management system would be employed. The Company will notify all the relevant highway officers, police, fire and ambulance services prior to commencing work. A detailed discussion would also be undertaken with the Council’s Rights-Of-Way Officer to ensure no survey cables obstruct footpaths, footways or bridleways crossing the survey lines.

A detailed information leaflet drop would be undertaken by the Company in the local area affected immediately preceding the exploratory work so that nearby residents are fully informed. A public notice will also be displayed in the local press.

The operational hours would be 0730 – 1800 Monday to Sunday inclusive, subject to any local restrictions imposed. No artificial lighting would be required.

The Company have confirmed no trees or hedges would be damaged or removed and that the land would be restored as far as practicable to its condition before any required excavation took place.

I hope this explains the proposal in more detail.

Regards,

Rory MacLeod

Head of Planning Control

UPDATE 23.6.10 from Phil Thomas

During July (2010) for 4 days, some residents may notice large vehicles in our area, from Purley Cross, up Downs Court Road, along Mitchley Ave, Rectory Park up to the Limpsfield Rd roundabout, undertaking seismic surveys.

Other roads will include Pampisford Rd, Sanderstead Rd, Limpsfield Rd, Addington Rd, Selsdon Park Rd, Kent Gate Way, Gravel Hill, Coombe Rd and Godstone Rd

These large specialist vehicles will be carrying out vibration tests and are carrying out surveys along the highway, for any potential gas or oil deposits underground.

There maybe some traffic disruption, as the surveys will be undertaken with the use of Stop/Go lollipops. All residents on the routes will be notified and advertising will be undertaken in the local press. The operational hours will be 0730 – 1800 Monday to Sunday inclusive, subject to any local restrictions imposed. No artificial lighting will be required.

The work is being carried out by TESLA-IMC International on behalf of Alamo Energy and is part of a survey of the “Weald” area. Alamo Energy have acquired licences from the Government to undertake these exploratory works, which could open up potential sites for any drilling works. This area is also near the Palmers Wood oilfield in Oxted, which was discovered in 1983.

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BACKLAND DEVELOPMENT NOW RESTRAINED

A statement issued by Greg Clark - Minister for Decentralisation on 9 June 2010, which may hopefully go some way to stopping backland development, particularly in Croydon and Riddlesdown !

Previously Developed Land and Density

I am today implementing the commitments made in the Coalition Agreement to decentralise the planning system by giving Local Authorities the freedom to prevent over-development of neighbourhoods and 'garden grabbing'.

The impact of the old policy approach, set out in Planning Policy Statement 3, is that the combination of a national target for brownfield land, alongside the definition of gardens as brownfield land, has meant local authorities feeling forced into granting planning permission for unwanted development on garden land - simply to maintain the brownfield target.

To bring an end to these detrimental effects, we are today therefore removing gardens from the definition of previously developed land in Planning Policy Statement 3.

We are also removing the requirement upon local authorities to have regard to the national minimum density for housing set out in paragraph 47 of PPS3. This policy has resulted in local authorities not having enough flexibility to set density ranges that suit the local needs in their areas - particularly for family houses.

I am today re-issuing Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing (PPS3) with the following changes:

* the definition of previously developed land in Annex B now excludes private residential gardens

* the national indicative minimum density of 30 dwellings per hectare is deleted from paragraph 47

Together these changes put power back in the hands of local authorities and communities to take the decisions that are best for them, and decide for themselves the best locations and types of development in their areas.

This reissued policy document sets out the Secretary of State's policy on previously developed land and housing density. Local Planning Authorities and the Planning Inspectorate are expected to have regard to the policy in preparing development plans and, where relevant, to take it into account as a material consideration when determining planning applications."

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