A new housing development accommodating as many as 200 people including families will be  ‘car free’ with residents  expected to cycle or use  public transport to get around.

Developers were given approval for the plans for a nine storey tower block in the heart of Thornton Heath after revising the scheme to provide more family homes with just two parking spaces for disabled  use.

The proposed 50 per cent affordable housing scheme at Station Yard, 56 Brigstock Road, still offers 58  flats  but the mix of accommodation is changed with 23 three bedroom apartments instead of two, nine two-bedroom, and 26 one bedroom flats.

While there were concessions on the accommodation for the tiered six, seven, eight and nine story tower blocks, with the tallest measuring 28.6 metres  and looming over houses on Melfort Road, the only parking is for bikes with 100 for residents and 18 for cycling visitors.

The development also includes two commercial units Class B1c which can be used for light industrial usage.

Dorset based businessmen Stephen King and Andrew Hurll purchased the site behind the Iceland car park for just £675,000 in February 2018 from the engineering group Actavo.  

The pair incorporated four businesses on 5 December 2017: Kenexa Estates Ltd for Thornton Heath, Truro, Norwich and Luton.

Kenexa (Thornton Heath) purchased the land for £675,000 in February 2018.  

The application received 35 comments with one supporting, three neutral and the rest objections.

In the council officers report it notes the development would effectively be a ‘car-free’ development, albeit accommodating two car parking spaces allocated for disabled use. 

Given the low number of car parking spaces proposed the area directly in front of the towers is laid out as a shared pedestrian and vehicle access and it is likely that the access area, in conjunction with the proposed soft landscaped buffer planting, could serve as ‘an additional community amenity and street-play area’, says the report.

Each of the individual towers would also be served by a landscaped communal roof terrace. 

The council officer adds in his report: “Overall, the proposed development could provide an interesting and pleasant place to live for future occupiers – situated within a sustainable location, well connected to local amenities as well as public transport options.  The commercial units could provide potential employment opportunities for some of the future occupiers. “

The development is subject to a Section 106 agreement and limitations around access to any future car parking permits was recommended for inclusion.

The developers will also have to pay a Community Infrastructure Levy and says the report this payment will contribute to delivering infrastructure to support the development of the area, such as local schools. 

An employment and training strategy and contribution of £35,835 would be secured through a legal agreement to ensure the employment of local residents during construction and potentially at the end user phase. The report also documents financial contributions of £76,093  for Carbon off-setting and £5,800 for air quality.