Consultation on the Local Plan review begins today (8 November), and the council is asking for as many people as possible to have their say on how the borough should grow.
The consultation is based around three spatial strategies, sites and planning policies, which are necessary to ensure Croydon’s growth and delivery of much-needed new homes, jobs and community facilities over the next 20 years is managed correctly.
Using government methodology, up to 46,040 homes are needed within the borough between now and 2039 and residents will be able to have their say on how best to manage the delivery of them, employment growth and how best to respond to Croydon’s climate emergency. Residents can also share their views on how each of the borough’s 16 places will change as Croydon grows.
A series of public consultation events are set to take place, with the first happening today (8 November), with spatial planning officers on Surrey Street Market between 11am and 2pm. Tomorrow (9 November) there is another consultation event at Crystal Palace Market, between 10am and 2pm. A full list of events are below:
- Selsdon Library, 12 November, 5.30pm-7.30pm
- Brighton Road, Coulsdon, 13 November, 11am-2pm
- Thornton Heath Library, 19 November, 5.30pm-7.30pm
- Norbury High Street, 20 November, 11am-2pm
- Purley Library, 26 November, 5.30pm-7.30pm
- Purley High Street, 27 November, 11am-2pm
- New Addington Library, 3 December, 5.30pm-7.30pm
- Addington Road, Selsdon, 4 December, 11am-2pm
- South Norwood Market, 7 December, 10am-2pm
- Ashburton Library, 10 December, 5.30pm-7.30pm
- Lower Addiscombe Road, Addiscombe, 11 December, 11am-2pm
The council’s spatial planning officers will also be available to speak to residents at Croydon Arts Store in the Whitgift Centre Wednesday-Saturday between 8 November and 20 December.
To allow a further weekend for comments, the consultation deadline has been extended to the following Monday (13 January 2020), when the results will be analysed. In late 2020 there will be another public consultation on the council’s preferred options, which will then be publicly examined in spring 2021, with adoption taking place in 2022.
“We all face some really big challenges across the borough. There is a housing crisis, with a large number of new homes needed over the next 20 years. We also need to respond quickly to the climate change emergency by making our borough much more sustainable. We need to ensure every place across Croydon has a healthy environment, access to employment, leisure and culture, and is supported by a range of appropriate facilities. Getting the balance right will be incredibly challenging but nothing is decided yet.
“We’ve got events taking place across the borough to help people understand what is being considered, talk to our planning officers, and share their views. We all need to consider how and where the changes will happen. I am sure if we all work and listen together we can ensure Croydon has a brighter future.”
Shifa Mustafa, executive director for place
Residents are also being sought to take part in two focus group workshops to gather more in-depth information on a number of themes across the Local Plan Review. For more information, and to register your interest in being part of a focus group, visit www.croydon.gov.uk/localplanconsultation