Croydon Council has granted retrospective planning permission for a block of eight flats in Coulsdon, despite widespread criticism that the building is now almost entirely different from the original plans approved in 2022. The development at 25 The Grove, near Coulsdon Town, replaced a two-storey detached family home with a larger block of self-contained flats, but subsequent changes by the developer led to what councillors described as a 'materially different' building.
Privacy and Overlooking Concerns
Neighbours have raised significant privacy concerns, particularly regarding direct overlooking of private gardens and rooms. David Boyd-Bell, a resident of neighbouring 25A The Grove, told the planning committee: 'How would you feel opening your curtains and finding people looking directly into your dining room? This is now our reality.' The addition of first-floor balconies without privacy protections has exacerbated the issue. Boyd-Bell added: 'Without these measures, people on the balconies would be able to look us in the eye from only a few metres away.'
Coulsdon Town councillor Luke Shortland noted that the developer failed to deliver promised protections from the 2022 application. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: 'Since being built, neighbours have suffered because the application was not built to plan, for example, not building the promised vital balcony screening which would have lessened the impact of overlooking.'
Safety and Aesthetic Issues
Residents also highlighted safety concerns due to the lack of proper boundary fencing around a 'dangerous drop' on the site. Boyd-Bell said: 'We have five young grandchildren who visited regularly before this development and they could play safely in our garden. They no longer can.' The committee criticised the building's appearance, with Conservative councillor Mark Johnson calling it 'an absolute monstrosity' and noting its dominance from the street. Councillors also lamented the loss of front landscaping, which harmed the 'street scene'.
The development includes only five parking spaces for eight flats, one fewer than originally approved. Mariano Hyozoda, a local resident, told the committee this would worsen parking on The Grove, which he described as 'severely overcrowded' due to unrestricted on-street parking.
Committee's Dilemma and Approval
Despite the criticism, the committee approved the retrospective application, acknowledging their limited remit. Labour councillor Rowenna Davis summarised: 'We are not here to decide whether this planning application is as close as we'd like it to be to the old application, because if we were here to decide that, I think we would all agree it would fail.' The developer has three months to implement conditions including opaque privacy screens on balconies, obscured glazing on side windows, boundary fencing, solar panels, and wildlife-friendly lighting. They must also pay £12,000 towards local transport improvements and sign a legal agreement preventing future residents from obtaining on-street parking permits.
Emily Munro, speaking in support of the application, argued that 'the alterations are minor and will not substantially alter the approved scheme' and that the development continues to provide 'a positive contribution to the housing needs of the borough.'
