German discount supermarket giant Lidl has unveiled fresh proposals for a major new mixed-use development in Croydon, aiming to transform a long-derelict site on the borough's border with Surrey.
Plans for a Modern Retail and Residential Hub
The ambitious scheme, earmarked for Tithepit Shaw Lane in the Hamsey Green area, would see the construction of a contemporary supermarket alongside new housing. The store itself is proposed to have a sales area of approximately 1,235 square metres and will feature Lidl's popular in-house bakery, customer toilets, and baby-changing facilities.
Above the supermarket, the plans outline the creation of 13 new residential units. This includes six three-bedroom townhouses and seven flats comprising a mix of two and three bedrooms. Significantly, a portion of these homes are designated as affordable housing. Each residence is designed with its own private garden or terrace, secure storage, and allocated parking.
Community Benefits and Infrastructure Improvements
Lidl estimates the development could generate up to 40 new full and part-time jobs for local people, with pay aligned to the retailer's London-wide scale. The supermarket chain reports that over 1,300 residents have expressed support for the plans, citing improved shopping convenience, new homes, and employment opportunities as key benefits.
The proposal includes a car park with 55 customer spaces, featuring accessible bays, parent-and-child spots, and rapid electric vehicle charging points. Sheltered bicycle parking is also planned. To address local concerns, Lidl has put forward a package of traffic and environmental measures, including:
- Traffic-calming initiatives.
- A suggested reduction of the speed limit on nearby roads.
- Enhanced pedestrian crossings close to the site and local schools.
- Landscaping designed to help the development blend into its surroundings.
The Path to Planning Permission
Due to the site's location on the border between the London Borough of Croydon and Tandridge District in Surrey, the application must be approved by both local authorities. Lidl states it has already conducted detailed design consultations and pre-application meetings with planners to tackle issues around traffic, safety, and environmental impact.
Residents can now examine the full plans. The application submitted to Croydon Council can be found using the reference 25/03653/FUL on the council's planning portal. The parallel application to Tandridge Council is available under the reference TA/2025/1271.
If approved, the development would bring a significant retail offering, much-needed housing, and a jobs boost to the Hamsey Green community, breathing new life into a site that has been vacant for years.
