BEDWARDINE ROAD FLATS PLANS SCRAPPED: Brick by Brick had permission to build on three sites – Former Lambeth councillor says Homes for Lambeth set to follow suit…

ALL THREE PLANS TO BUILD BLOCKS OF FLATS ON BEDWARDINE ROAD HAVE BEEN SCRAPPED.

The three separate planning applications by Croydon council’s controversial 100-per-cent owned building company Brick by Brick – all of which were given planning permission despite residential opposition – are now marked “Withdrawn” on the official croydon.gov planning register website – with a date of June 8th.

Each has a separate letter sent by Nicola Townsend, Croydon council’s head of development management to agents Carter Jonas saying: “Further to your recent correspondence I confirm that this application has now been treated as withdrawn and entered in the planning register as such.”

Who made the decisions to withdraw the applications – Croydon council or Brick by Brick –  is not yet known.

The three sites – and the now withdrawn applications they were for – are:

Garage Block And Land Adjoining 21 Bedwardine Road Upper Norwood SE19 3AS
Proposal: Demolition of garages/storage sheds and erection of a three storey building to provide six flats together with landscaping, refuse and cycle storage as well as other associated works (amended description);

Garage Block And Land Adjoining 53 Bedwardine Road Upper Norwood
Proposal: Demolition of existing garages/storage sheds and erection of a three storey building to provide six flats together with landscaping, refuse/cycle stores and other associated works; and

Garage Block And Land Adjoining 91 Bedwardine Road Upper Norwood
Proposal: Demolition of garages/storage sheds and erection of a three storey building to provide three flats together with landscaping, refuse and cycle storage as well as other associated works.

The Inside Croydon website are reporting that ALL 23 applications for the sites where Brick by Brick got planning permission have now been withdrawn.

EX-COUNCILLOR SAYS WITHDRAWAL OF BRICK BY BRICK APPLICATIONS “IS DIRECTION OF TRAVEL FOR LAMBETH COUNCIL AND HOMES FOR LAMBETH”

Former Lambeth Cllr Pete Elliott, highlighting the Inside Croydon story in a social media post, says:

This is the direction of travel for Lambeth and #HfL. Already there will be those at LBL thinking that huge sunk costs mean it’s too late to pull out now. This is wrong, costs will continue to rise exponentially with no payback for decades – if ever.

Challenged by Tom Chance @tom_chance Replying to @pete556

Why so, Pete? Given that BxB is among a fairly small group of companies to be shut down while the number of councils that have them is now eight in 10.

(Mr Chance highlighted this news story: More than 80 per cent of councils now own housing companies, research finds NEWS  Inside Housing 10.06.217:00 AM GMTBY LUCIE HEATH)

Pete Elliott @pete556 Replying:

There are many concerns I have for HfL: high overheads in terms of salaries and a high churn. Consistent delays on deliveries, higher costs due to Brexit and covid factors. Delivery objectives not linked in with any housing strategy. A lack of transparency & scrutiny etc etc

Tom Chance @tom_chance A good list!

Pete Elliott @pete556 I could go on.

Further reading:

“WE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM OUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH CARS” SAYS COUNCILLOR AS BEDWARDINE ROAD PLANS GET GO-AHEAD – Move to defer application because of lack of parking fails as yet another Brick by Brick application is approved September 18th 2019 this website BEDWARDINE ROAD DEVELOPMENT PLANS SUBMITTED – “No policy requirement for Brick by Brick to provide affordable housing” February 1st 2019 this website BEDWARDINE ROAD HOUSING PLANS SET TO GET GO-AHEAD (even though ward councillors are unable to be there to object)  August 25th 2019 this website