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Category Archives: Housing
MP Philp’s Green Belt petition slammed as ‘scaremongering’
‘Croydon’s Green Belt under threat!’ was the deliberately alarmist headline on a mass email from the Croydon South MP last week. Some have described it as ‘reckless scaremongering’. Others have called it ‘outright lies’. BARRATT HOLMES, housing correspondent, puts down … Continue reading
Posted in "Hammersfield", Addington Hills, Addiscombe West, Business, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Croydon South, East Croydon, Environment, Housing, Lloyd Park, London Councils, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, New Addington North, New Addington South, Park Hill and Whitgift, Park Hill Recreation Ground, Planning, Sadiq Khan, Selsdon and Addington Village, South Croydon, Tramlink, Transport
Tagged Addington Hills, Addiscombe, Andrew Pelling, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, East Croydon, East Croydon tram stop, Green Belt, Housing, Labour, London, London Assembly, London Borough of Croydon, London Mayor, Lord Sadiq Khan, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor Sadiq Khan, New Addington, South Croydon, The Local Plan, The London Plan, Tory
5 Comments
Perry admits he has no idea when work will start on Purley Pool
Not for the first time, Croydon’s Mayor is out of his depth when facing the most straightforward of questions, reports PEARL LEE Five years after promising to reopen Purley Pool “immediately” as part of his original election campaign, and Croydon … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Neil Garratt, Planning, Polaska, Polaska Assets Ltd, Property, Purley, Purley Pool
Tagged Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Polaska, Polaska Assets BVI, Polaska Assets Ltd, Purley, Purley Pool, Purley Pool Towers, Tory
7 Comments
Complaints against Perry’s council soar by 51% in two years
Croydon, under its Tory Mayor, is getting worse, not better, judging by the number of complaints upheld by the Local Government Ombudsman in the last year. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon continues to be among the country’s most rotten boroughs, … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Bromley Council, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Lambeth Council, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, SEND, Surrey, Sutton Council
Tagged Bromley, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Lambeth, League tables, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Local Government Ombudsman, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Rotten Boroughs, Rotten boroughs league tables 2025-2026, Sutton, Tory
6 Comments
Ansari’s £90m property empire in collapse as receivers move in
In the latest sign of difficulties for businesses in Croydon, one of the borough’s biggest developers and landlords – a political donor to Sadiq Khan and Yvette Cooper in the past – is being forced to sell several properties. EXCLUSIVE … Continue reading
Posted in Addiscombe West, Business, Croydon Council, Housing, Leslie Arms, Planning, Property, Pubs
Tagged AA Homes, Addiscombe, Addiscombe West, Anwar Ansari, Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, Croydon Council, Dogs attack, Dr Anwar Ansari, English Heritage, Kangal, Labour, Landlord licensing, Leslie Arms, Lloyd Park, Lower Addiscombe Road, The Victorian Society, Turkish Kangal
7 Comments
35 people evacuated as fire ripped through Belgrave Walk flats
The cause of a fire on Belgrave Walk, Mitcham, yesterday which has forced 35 people out of their homes, is “under investigation”, according to the London Fire Brigade. Around 125 firefighters and 25 fire engines were called out to the … Continue reading
Posted in Housing, London Fire Brigade, London-wide issues
Tagged Belgrave Walk, Flat fire, LFB, London Fire Brigade, Mitcham
1 Comment
Perry challenge to Khan: ‘Croydon’s Green Belt is sacrosanct’
Jason Perry, Croydon’s failed Mayor, has put himself on a collision course with Lord Sadiq Khan and City Hall over proposals in the draft London Plan to build hundreds of homes on the borough’s Green Belt. “Whilst I am Mayor, … Continue reading
Posted in "Hammersfield", Addington Hills, Addiscombe West, Andrew Pelling, Business, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, East Croydon, Environment, Housing, Lloyd Park, London Councils, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, New Addington North, New Addington South, Park Hill and Whitgift, Park Hill Recreation Ground, Planning, Sadiq Khan, Selsdon and Addington Village, South Croydon, Tramlink, Transport
Tagged Addington Hills, Addiscombe, Andrew Pelling, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, East Croydon, East Croydon tram stop, Green Belt, Housing, Labour, London, London Assembly, London Borough of Croydon, London Mayor, Lord Sadiq Khan, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor Sadiq Khan, New Addington, South Croydon, The Local Plan, The London Plan, Tory
6 Comments
London’s ‘Lord Mayor’ puts Croydon Green Belt in his plan
Any green space within one mile of a tram stop or railway station might be available for housing development according to Mayor Khan’s draft London Plan. ANDREW PELLING takes a look at the new proposals London Mayor Sadiq Khan wants … Continue reading
Posted in "Hammersfield", Addington Hills, Addiscombe West, Andrew Pelling, Business, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, East Croydon, Environment, Housing, Lloyd Park, London Councils, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, New Addington North, New Addington South, Park Hill and Whitgift, Park Hill Recreation Ground, Planning, Sadiq Khan, Selsdon and Addington Village, South Croydon, Tramlink, Transport
Tagged Addington Hills, Addiscombe, Andrew Pelling, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, East Croydon, East Croydon tram stop, Green Belt, Housing, Labour, London, London Assembly, London Borough of Croydon, London Mayor, Lord Sadiq Khan, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor Sadiq Khan, New Addington, South Croydon, The Local Plan, The London Plan, Tory
9 Comments
Perry’s council to face Judicial Review over Access Croydon
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Failed Mayor Jason Perry probably ought to get a season ticket for the High Court, as his council is facing yet another legal challenge over his decision to close the public access service inside Fisher’s Folly. By … Continue reading
Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry
Tagged Access Croydon, Bernard Weatherill House, BWH, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon BME Forum, Croydon Council, Fisher's Folly, Homelessness, Katherine Kerswell, London Renters' Union, Mayor Jason Perry, PILC, Public Interest Law Centre, Public Services Delivery Hub, Tory
3 Comments
NHS London aiming to provide 1million extra GP appointments
Health trusts to get into the property business to try to provide cheaper homes for health workers closer to their places of work Patient satisfaction with GPs in London is improving, with NHS London hopeful that the government’s 10-year capital … Continue reading
‘We need to pull every lever available to end the housing crisis’
This month, Inside Croydon columnist Andrew Fisher interviews Fiona Fletcher-Smith, the chief executive of one of the country’s largest housing associations, L&Q, and hears what policy changes she believes new Prime Minister Andy Burnham needs to implement if the government … Continue reading
Posted in Andrew Fisher, Fiona Fletcher Smith, Housing, Inside Croydon, London-wide issues, Property, Sadiq Khan, The Andrew Fisher Interview, Under The Flyover
Tagged affordable housing, Andrew Fisher, Council housing, Fiona Fletcher-Smith, Housing, Housing policy, L&Q, Queens Gardens, Rent controls, social housing, Temporary accommodation, The Andrew Fisher Interview
1 Comment
Perry tries to hide homelessness service with South End move
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Just hours before his council was due at the High Court to face a possible Judicial Review over its closure of Access Croydon, the Mayor announced that he was moving the housing service. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES … Continue reading
Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry
Tagged Access Croydon, Bernard Weatherill House, BWH, Cavendish House, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon BME Forum, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Emma Gardiner, Fisher's Folly, Homelessness, Katherine Kerswell, London Renters' Union, Mayor Jason Perry, PILC, Public Interest Law Centre, Public Services Delivery Hub, South End, South Norwood Community Kitchen, South West London Law Centre, Tory
9 Comments
Perry’s council facing High Court threat over Access Croydon
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council is being dragged into the High Court next week to face claims that it is failing to meet its statutory responsibilities on housing as a consequence of making its offices open only on an appointment … Continue reading
Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry
Tagged Access Croydon, Bernard Weatherill House, BWH, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon BME Forum, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Emma Gardiner, Fisher's Folly, Homelessness, Katherine Kerswell, London Renters' Union, Mayor Jason Perry, PILC, Public Interest Law Centre, Public Services Delivery Hub, South Norwood Community Kitchen, South West London Law Centre, Tory
7 Comments
Croydon Park to reopen in 2027 as ‘The Canopy’ apart-hotel
A year later than promised, with little more than half the homes proposed in the planning application, and with no sign of the 39- and 36-storey towers that council planners had insisted upon, there are plans for the Croydon Park … Continue reading
Posted in Addiscombe West, Botanical House, Business, Croydon Council, Croydon Park Hotel, Housing, Nicola Townsend, Planning, Property, The Canopy
Tagged Addiscombe West, Altyre Road, Amro, Botanical House, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Park Hotel, East Croydon station, Labour, Simon Hall, The Canopy, Tony Newman
5 Comments
Sherlock Holmes and the mystery of the 24 unaffordable flats
Planning permission was refused last night for a scheme that threatens a South Norwood heritage building which was once home to Arthur Conan Doyle. But this case is not closed yet… And so it came to pass… The first planning … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Croydon Council, History, Housing, Nicola Townsend, Planning, Property, Sean Fitzsimons, South Norwood
Tagged 12 Tennison Road, Arthur Conan-Doyle, Blue plaque, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mark Johnson, Melanie Felten, Nicola Townsend, Planning Committee, Sean Fitzsimons, Sherlock Holmes, South Norwood, Tory, Walker Properties Ltd
5 Comments
£1.45m Addiscombe landmark building withdrawn from auction
Financial figures published for the sale of Grade II-listed Leslie Arms were altered ahead of the auction date, with a two-bedroom flat shown now to be paying just £800 per month in rent. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Anwar Ansari, the … Continue reading
Posted in Addiscombe West, Business, Croydon Council, Housing, Leslie Arms, Planning, Property, Pubs
Tagged AA Homes, Addiscombe, Addiscombe West, Anwar Ansari, Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, Croydon Council, Dogs attack, Dr Anwar Ansari, English Heritage, Kangal, Labour, Landlord licensing, Leslie Arms, Lloyd Park, Lower Addiscombe Road, Savills, Savills auctioneers, Savills estate agents, The Victorian Society, Turkish Kangal
7 Comments
Leslie Arms timeline: sad 25-year decline of heritage building
Between 2000 and 2025, the owner of the Grade II-listed Leslie Arms on Lower Addiscombe Road submitted 13 separate planning applications for the building – 14 if you include his 2009 appeal against a refusal of a planning application. Ten … Continue reading
Posted in Addiscombe West, Business, Croydon Council, History, Housing, Leslie Arms, Planning, Property, Pubs
Tagged AA Homes, Addiscombe, Anwar Ansari, Croydon, Croydon Council, Dr Anwar Ansari, Leslie Arms, Planning, pubs, Upper Addiscombe Road
3 Comments
Addiscombe’s listed pub building put up for auction at £1.45m
The Leslie Arms, the Grade II-listed Victorian pub building on the corner of Cherry Orchard Road and Lower Addiscombe Road, has been placed for sale by auction next month. The auctioneers’ guide price is £1.45million. Built in 1900, the Leslie … Continue reading
Posted in Addiscombe West, Business, Croydon Council, Housing, Leslie Arms, Planning, Property, Pubs
Tagged AA Homes, Addiscombe, Addiscombe West, Anwar Ansari, Cherry Orchard Road, Croydon, Croydon Council, Dogs attack, Dr Anwar Ansari, English Heritage, Kangal, Labour, Landlord licensing, Leslie Arms, Lloyd Park, Lower Addiscombe Road, The Victorian Society, Turkish Kangal
2 Comments
Rubbish councillor Roche finally sacked from Mayor’s cabinet
Jason Perry’s ‘top team’ for his second term in charge of the Town Hall sees a belated call-up for a 76-year-old pensioner, and an overdue axing for a work-shy colleague. KEN LEE reports Scott Roche, the Conservative councillor for Shirley … Continue reading
Posted in Alasdair Stewart, Andrew Stranack, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Fly tipping, Housing, Jason Cummings, Jeet Bains, Luke Shortland, Lynne Hale, Margaret Bird, Mayor Jason Perry, Ola Kolade, Refuse collection, Richard Chatterjee, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Robert Ward, Scott Roche, Selsdon and Addington Village, Shirley South, Simon Brew, Veolia, Yvette Hopley
Tagged Cllr Alasdair Stewart, Cllr Jason Cummings, Cllr Robert Ward, Cllr Scott Roche, Conservative, Council Cabinet, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Fly-tipping, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory, Veolia
5 Comments
Planning control has got worse under developers’ friend Perry
STEVE WHITESIDE has compiled dossiers of evidence that show that nothing much has changed in the council planning department since 2022. In some cases, for the residents living next to some developments that have gone ahead, things have actually got … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Environment, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Nicola Townsend, Planning, Property, Sanderstead
Tagged 12 The Ridgeway, Chris Philp MP, Cllr Michael Neal, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon planners, Croydon South, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Nicola Townsend, Planning, Planning enforcement, Purley, Sanderstead, SPD2, Steve Whiteside, Suburban Design Guide, Tory
4 Comments
Stink from Arkwright Road flats smells of council failures
Jason Perry boasts that he halted the overdevelopment of parts of Croydon, caused by SPD2, the hugely unpopular ‘Suburban Design Guide. STEVE WHITESIDE has compiled dossiers of evidence that show that nothing much has changed in the council planning department … Continue reading
Posted in Community associations, Croydon Council, Environment, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Nicola Townsend, Planning, Property, Purley, Sanderstead, Venetia Reid-Baptiste
Tagged 12 The Ridgeway, 54A Arkwright Road, Cllr Ian Parker, Cllr Michael Neal, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon planners, Jan Slominski, John Penn, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Nicola Townsend, Planning, Planning enforcement, Purley, Sanderstead, Sewers, SPD2, Steve Whiteside, Suburban Design Guide, Thames Water, Tory, Venetia Reid-Baptiste
7 Comments
Council’s £68m write-off as Brick by Brick goes into liquidation
The housing company that borrowed £200m but never made a penny profit is finally to be closed down after a six-year winding-up process. By STEVEN DOWNES Brick by Brick, the council-owned housing company that bankrupted the borough, has gone into … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Housing, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry
Tagged Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Conservative, Coulsdon, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Lion Green Road car park, London Borough of Croydon, Red Clover Gardens, Regen Capital, Regen Coulsdon, Tory
10 Comments
Shared ownership makes Mosaic Place hard to piece together
Even before the latest global economic shock hit the construction trade, house-building in London had slowed to a crawl. JOHNNY DOBBYN looks at one scheme of more than 100 flats in Purley that provides a possible case study to show … Continue reading
