Executive Mayor Jason Perry has launched a campaign calling on residents to oppose Labour’s plans for development on Croydon’s Green Belt and defend the right of local communities to have a meaningful say over planning decisions.
Lord Sadiq Khan’s draft London Plan sets Croydon a target of 21,544 new homes over the next ten years. This includes 5,600 homes attributed to Green Belt capacity in a proposed 'Croydon–New Addington' growth area which includes: Addiscombe, New Addington, Fieldway, Addington Village, Gravel Hill, South Croydon, Coombe Lane, Lloyd Park and East Croydon.
At the same time, the Labour Government is introducing new rules which will prevent ward councillors from bringing most developments of up to nine homes before the Planning Committee.
Residents will still be able to submit comments and objections, but however serious the concerns of the community, their elected representatives will no longer be able to insist that these applications are examined openly by the committee.
Mayor Jason Perry is urging residents to join his campaign and send a clear message to Sadiq Khan and the Labour Government: protect Croydon’s Green Belt and keep planning decisions accountable to local people.
Mayor Jason Perry said:
“Labour is attacking Croydon’s Green Belt and taking planning decisions further away from the people affected by them.
“Sadiq Khan wants Croydon’s housing target to include 5,600 homes from Green Belt capacity, despite identifying space for nearly 16,000 homes on brownfield land. Once our Green Belt is lost, it is lost forever.
“Meanwhile, Labour’s new national rules will stop ward councillors bringing many controversial developments before the Planning Committee. Residents will be allowed to object, but their elected representatives will be denied the power to ensure those concerns are heard publicly.
“That is an attack on local planning democracy. Croydon needs more homes, but brownfield development must come first and local communities must retain the right to defend their roads and neighbourhoods.
“I will oppose these plans. If you agree, please sign my petition and join our campaign.”
Why we are campaigning
- Protect Croydon’s Green Belt. Sadiq Khan’s draft Plan attributes 5,600 homes to Green Belt capacity in Croydon. Protected land should not be treated as the easy answer to London’s housing problems.
- Put brownfield land first. The Plan identifies capacity for 15,944 homes on previously developed land in Croydon. That should be the priority.
- Get approved homes built. More than 300,000 homes already had planning permission across London by 2025. Labour should tackle poor viability, high construction costs and inadequate infrastructure instead of simply allocating more land.
- Defend your road and neighbourhood. A development of up to nine homes can have a substantial effect on parking, traffic, overlooking, access and local services.
- Protect residents’ democratic voice. Local objections should carry real weight. Ward councillors must retain the power to ensure controversial applications receive public scrutiny.
- Keep decisions local. Croydon’s residents and elected representatives understand their communities better than politicians and officials at City Hall or in Whitehall.
