Sutton fear ‘Croydonisation’ as developers chalk up extra flats

insidecroydon

1 year ago

Profit-hungry developers have been given permission to build more than 1,000 flats in Chalk Gardens, the town centre site of the former B&Q store

Optimistic: work is underway on the site on Carshalton Road, for eight tower blocks of up to 21 storeys. Will any homes really be ready in 2026?

It seems that 970 flats in one of the biggest residential developments in Sutton, at something called Chalk Gardens, was just not enough to satisfy profit-hungry Berkeley Homes, who this week got a rubber-stamp of approval from City Hall for an additional 44 units to be built on the site of the former B&Q store in the town centre.

Just those extra units could have an estimated retail value of more than £12million for the builders.

This latest decision follows the December 2023 planning permission for the development on the one-way system overlooking Manor Park which caused howls of anguish from residents and opposition councillors, including complaints about the “Croydonisation” of the town centre. And not meant in a good way, you understand.

But with LibDem councillor “Calamity” Jayne McCoy now leading Sutton’s planning committee, what could possibly go wrong?

The original planning permission was criticised as causing overdevelopment and “ghettoisation”, and for being in breach of Sutton Council’s own Local Plan. The original proposal provided for 337 “affordable” homes, over which Sutton Council will have nomination rights.

The LibDems agreed that most of these would be kept separate from the rest of the development, leading to accusations that they would be “poor door” homes.

The plans also generated the usual arguments over lack of additional amenities, including car parking spaces, or the lack of them, and the reduced car parking availability in the town centre.

The sheer bulk of the development, to include eight tower blocks of up to 21 storeys, will change the skyline of Sutton, something which drew the majority of the 315 public objections two years ago.

Planning officials have admitted that heritage Victorian houses and Manor Park, with its war memorial, will be in near constant shadow.

Chalk canyon: the development was already one of the biggest ever in Sutton

Now, the Greater London Authority has given its approval to increase the housing density on the site, from from 970 to 1,014. The number of affordable homes increases by 16, from 337 to 353. The council says that 60% of the affordable homes will be council homes available at London Affordable Rent, the rest being shared ownership.

“The Chalk Gardens development will play a significant part in the council delivering its target of 500 new council homes in five years,” planning committee chair McCoy said.

“Chalk Gardens will transform one of Sutton’s most important town centre sites into a thriving new neighbourhood,” claimed a press release from the council, adopting the language of estate agents.

Much is being made of new public open space. “New routes throughout the site will connect Sutton’s numerous town centre areas as well as improve Sutton Court Road, Langley Park Road, Carshalton Road, and Chalk Pit Way, making it a greener and better place to live and work,” the council claims.

Work started on site last year, although Berkeley Homes’ online claim that the first homes will be ready in 2026 seems, at this stage, a bit of a stretch.

The development is being handled by St George, one of Berkeley’s housing brands.

“I am delighted that these new plans mean more affordable and council rent homes for people in desperate need of housing and show the council’s commitment to building quality and affordable homes for our residents,” according to McCoy, the former council deputy leader who has been handed the consolation (and extra council allowances) of chairing the planning committee.

“Chalk Gardens is a key part of the Council’s plans to build a sustainable and vibrant town centre with more homes in the area and ensure more footfall in the high street.

“By building more homes in Sutton town centre, where the public transport connections are good, we also avoid the need to build in other parts of the borough and protect the special character of our district centres that our residents appreciate so much.

“It will be a really exciting new addition to the town centre for all residents to enjoy.”

Yes. That excitement is almost palpable.

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