Space at a premium: residents have produced evidence to back up their claims about the busy multi-storey car park. Developers misleadingly say there is no demand for parking in Purley
Our shadowy multi-millionaire developers based in off-shore tax havens correspondent, BARRATT HOLMES, on an outbreak of common sense, and serious reservations, over proposals for a massive retirement home complex
Prime development site: Purley leisure centre has been closed since March 2020, the adjacent Sainsbury’s supermarket has stood empty for a decade longer
Seven of the borough’s largest and most influential residents’ associations have filed a detailed and corruscating criticism of plans to build another 220 homes in Purley town centre, in a blatant attempt by profit-hungry developers to get around planning regulations over affordable housing by fobbing off Croydon with a “free” swimming pool and leisure centre.
The planning application for redevelopment of the site of Purley Pool, the disused Sainsbury’s supermarket and multi-storey car park has finally been submitted. The sharp-eyed experts of the residents’ associations have gone through the hundreds of pages of documents and found a stack of inaccuracies, misrepresentations, attempted deceits and potential breaches of planning law.
Many of the objections centre on the long-term damage to Purley district centre likely to be caused by the removal of 424 parking spaces in the existing multi-storey, to be replaced by just 50 in a 220-unit housing development with a leisure centre attached.
The objection letter also highlights the serious fire risk posed by the creation of a car park underneath some of the retirement flats that the developers want to build.
The plans, submitted on behalf of developers who are ultimately based in the British Virgin Island tax haven, have been warmly endorsed by Croydon Mayor Jason Perry and MP Chris Philp, who not so long ago was leading the campaign against over-development of the local town centre.
Signatories to the 10-page demolition job of Polaska and Perry’s plans are Riddlesdown Residents’ Association, Hartley and District RA, Selsdon RA, Croham Valley RA, Old Coulsdon RA, Coulsdon West RA and East Coulsdon RA.
Missing from that list is Purley and Woodcote RA, which might have something to do with their having had as their chair Samir Dwesar, a member of Perry’s Conservative council.
The objection letter states, “The seven RAs are very supportive of the rebuilding of a new leisure centre. However, we believe this development must not be at a detrimental cost to the viability and success of the Purley District Centre, primarily in relation to the much reduced public parking element of this scheme.”
The RAs have conducted a detailed check of the planning application, and have a better overview of all the developments either underway or recently granted planning permission than has been evident from our Tory-run council and planning committee.
Overdevelopment: the Polaska scheme is a massive complex of expensive retirement homes for sale, with a leisure centre tacked on, but no proper parking provision
“The seven RAs… believe this proposed scheme must now take into account the development at 26-52 Whytecliffe Road South and Purley Station Car Park (21/01753/FUL)… which was granted by the planning committee on 4 April 2024.
“This scheme is, of course, right opposite this site on Whytecliffe Rd South and will also involve the loss of some public parking for commuters using Purley rail station.”
And they state that, despite the developers having asked for pre-application advice on planning restrictions from the council on no less than 12 occasions, as well as input from the council’s secretive Review Panel, “we are not convinced that all the issues raised by council planning officers have been addressed in the final submission by the applicant”.
The RAs’ objection letter describes the loss of so many public car parking spaces as “ludicrous”, highlighting that the demolition of the mutli-storey will not just impact commuters using Purley station and shoppers visiting the high street, but also Purley Memorial Hospital, which uses the existing car park for patients and NHS staff.
“We’ve all seen what has happened to the retail trade in Croydon town centre and we are fearful Purley town centre will follow the same way should long-term public parking be severely reduced,” the objection states.
Somewhat politely, the RAs objection letter says, “The applicant has not taken into account the effect the loss of a public car park on this site will have, particularly in view of this large-scale development and the other nearby large-scale applications now granted.”
They even suggest that Tesco might even pull out of Purley if the business feels that their supermarket’s car park is being used as an overflow for the town centre.
The fire risk inherent in plans for the development’s on-site parking is also spelled out. “In view of the recent large scale fire at Luton Airport car park in October 2023 (and numerous fires in other car parks), is it wise to be accommodating car parking within the
lower floors of high-rise residential blocks, especially for the elderly?
“In our view, this is a substantial risk to the occupiers of the flats – considering the age of the occupants. All the parking should be separate, and away from the blocks with flats.”
Unaffordable: none of the flats in the development would be ‘affordable’ despite London planning regulations
They also raise concerns about flooding risks and sewage disposal (another 220 flushing lavs, plus the swimming pool… all in the dirty hands of Thames Water): “We believe that all these large-scale developments are increasing the flood risk to Purley town centre and surrounding areas.”
And they also nail the developers’ gaming of the planning system, by trying to dodge their planning responsibilities to deliver affordable homes.
A housing development of this size would normally be expected to provide at least 70 homes at social rent or equivalent.
“We note none of the residential units will be affordable,” the RAs’ objection letter states (our italics). “This site could potentially make a significant contribution to housing needs in the area.”
The scheme is about 25 residential units fewer than according to Polaska’s earlier versions of their plans. Nonetheless, the sale value of the properties proposed under the application could be at least £60million.
The planning application includes reference to a financial viability assessment which claims that “the scheme cannot viably provide any affordable housing”.
The planning application states, “The scheme is subject to significant viability challenges due to the high existing use value and the costs of reproving the leisure centre and associated facilities at nil cost to the council/public.”
The role of Croydon Mayor Perry in all this appears to be increasingly murky, as he and Tory councillors in and around Purley act as cheerleaders for developers, rather than representing their residents.
Perry had promised the borough that he would re-open Purley Pool if he was elected in 2022. In November 2021, Perry and Conservative councillors claimed that there was “nothing structurally significant that is keeping [Purley Pool] closed… and nothing costing £3million”.
They either didn’t know what they were talking about, or they were deliberately lying, because the costs of re-opening the pool and leisure centre, which was closed in 2020 because of covid, was way out of budget for Croydon’s cash-strapped council.
And then, as if by magic, Polaska appeared on the scene, “generously” offering to build replacement facilities. Turns out, this is likely to deprive the borough of at least 60 affordable homes.
According to the RAs’ objection letter, Perry has been briefing more misinformation about the development of the Purley Pool site. “The seven RAs were recently advised by the Executive Croydon Mayor in an email dated 10 January 2024, that the ‘Later Living’ flats will be rented rather than purchased.
“However, we see from the documentation that this is not the case and they will be purchased on the open market.”
Got him sussed: some residents have already got the measure of piss-poor Perry
This, the residents’ associations say, would break London planning regulations: “As the proposal represents a key regeneration opportunity for Purley, there needs to be greater transparency as to why affordable housing cannot be provided,” the objection says.
The Polaska planning application has so far attracted almost 1,200 comments, the majority opposing the plans.
The residents’ associations conclude their objection: “Whilst the RAs would be very supportive of a new leisure centre and some elderly residential units (including affordable), we cannot support this scheme as presented with a distinct lack of public parking for the [Purley District Centre].
“We would ask that the council take on board the seven RAs objections and all the many other residents’ objections… and refuse this application.”
Read more: Residents ‘deeply concerned’ over developers’ parking claims
Read more: Tories warn residents: don’t dare complain about Purley pool
Read more: Residents backlash over Perry’s 200-flat scheme at Purley pool
Read more: Council backs Purley Pool tax dodge by off-shore company
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