For years, residents of Regina Road in South Norwood were forced to live with conditions that should never have been tolerated. Crumbling buildings, poor maintenance and long-standing safety concerns were the legacy of Labour’s time running Croydon Council. Promises were made, but nothing changed.
That failure is now being put right.
Final planning permission has been granted for the full redevelopment of the Regina Road estate, unlocking up to 340 new homes for local people and marking one of the biggest regeneration projects Croydon has seen in decades. This is a major milestone in delivering on the commitment made by Executive Mayor Jason Perry to fix what Labour left behind and rebuild Croydon properly.
When serious concerns about living conditions emerged in 2021, residents rightly demanded action. Under Labour, the estate was allowed to decline. Under the Conservatives, it became a priority.
Since his election in 2022, Jason Perry has made it clear that Regina Road would not be ignored again. The unsafe blocks have been demolished with the consent of residents, exactly as promised, and the site is now fully green-lit for reconstruction. Not talk. Not delay. Delivery.
The redevelopment has secured £54 million in grant funding and has passed every required hurdle, including unanimous approval at Croydon’s planning committee and a two-stage review by the Greater London Authority. That backing reflects confidence in Croydon’s new direction and in a council that now gets the basics right.
Work is progressing at pace. Lovell has been appointed as the main contractor, with construction expected to begin later this year following the completion of demolition works.
The new Regina Road will provide at least 215 council homes, alongside new green spaces, better lighting and security, a community hub, a preschool, improved walking and cycling routes, and a multi-use games area. It will be safer, greener and built around the needs of the people who live there.
Crucially, residents have been at the centre of the process throughout. A resident working group has helped shape the plans, influenced the design and played a role in selecting the contractor. That approach reflects a wider change in how Croydon Council now works with tenants and leaseholders, treating them with respect and involving them properly in decisions that affect their lives.
Regina Road is proof of what happens when a council stops making excuses and starts fixing problems. Labour let the estate fall into an unacceptable state. Jason Perry and the Conservatives listened, took responsibility and delivered.
Croydon is being rebuilt, estate by estate, promise by promise. Regina Road shows that when residents are listened to and leadership is serious, change really does happen.
