Croydon Council has announced its opposition to the draft London Plan, arguing that the city's housing targets should not be met by building on green belt land. The council will formally object to the plan, which proposes 5,600 new homes on green belt sites in the borough as part of a growth area between Croydon and New Addington.
The draft London Plan, published on July 16, 2026, sets a target of 558,000 new homes across the capital between 2028 and 2037. For Croydon, the plan requires 21,544 new homes over ten years, comprising 15,944 homes on brownfield land and 5,600 homes on green belt land.
Council's Stance on Green Belt Protection
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon, stated: “I am clear that Croydon will oppose the draft London Plan in its current form. We need more homes, including affordable homes, but our Green Belt is sacrosanct. The Mayor of London's Plan identifies capacity for nearly 16,000 homes on brownfield land in Croydon. That must be the priority, alongside making schemes viable and getting existing permissions moving.”
Perry added: “Whilst I am Mayor, Croydon Council will always stand up for our Green Belt and for the right of local communities to shape the places where they live.”
Consultation and Wider Opposition
The council is preparing its response to the draft London Plan consultation, which closes on October 15, 2026. It will argue for continued protection of green belt land, realistic housing targets, and more support for brownfield development. The council believes that meeting housing targets should not rely on developing green belt land.
Several South London councils have voiced concerns about green belt development. In June 2026, 1,000 people objected to a proposed 350-home development on green belt land in Bromley. Bromley Council announced its intention to refuse the application, calling it “completely inappropriate,” before issuing a formal refusal.
