The Croydon Council Planning Sub-Committee met on 25 September 2025, and voted to refuse an application for the demolition of an existing dwelling and the erection of a new two-storey detached house at 127 Pollards Hill South.

127 Pollards Hill South

The committee considered an application for the demolition of the existing bungalow at 127 Pollards Hill South in Norbury, and the erection of a two-storey, four-bedroom detached dwelling with accommodation in the roof, solar panels, an outbuilding, and associated landscaping, cycling and refuse storage.

Decision: The committee voted to refuse the application, against officer recommendation.

Arguments for the refusal, as summarised by the planning officer, Nicola Townsend, head of development management, were based on the size, bulk, scale, and massing of the proposed development, and its resulting impact on the character of the area and street scene. Councillor Helen Redfern said:

I have to look at this as the building that is proposed I think that it is just too big it's just too big I've looked on Google maps I can't see anything as big as this and I haven't heard anything that convinces me that other homes on the street are as big as this.

Councillor Redfern also raised concerns about how a four-bedroom house could take up so much space.

Councillor Appu Srinivasan argued that the development was policy compliant and should be approved. Councillor Clive Fraser, Vice-Chair of Landmeet, who proposed the original motion to grant permission, said that he could not see grounds for refusing the application, and that the size of the house related to its plot.

Margaret Robson, speaking in objection to the application, described the proposal as a monstrosity that was out of scale with its surroundings.

Dr Imran Qureshi, the applicant, spoke about his long connection to the local area, his work as a consultant at Croydon University Hospital, and the need for a larger home to accommodate his family. Liam Russell, the agent, said that the application had been extensively discussed and carefully refined with council officers.

The planning officer, Katie Park, stated that the proposed dwelling would have a floor area of approximately 640sqm, and would exceed minimum space standards. She also noted that the inspector had previously said that the plot was large enough for a big house.

The Croydon Local Plan (CLP) policy DM10.6 specifies that proposals should protect the amenity of the occupiers of adjoining buildings and should not result in direct overlooking to habitable rooms, or private outdoor space within 10m perpendicular to the rear elevation of a dwelling. Furthermore, proposals should ensure that they do not result in significant loss of sunlight or daylight levels to the adjoining occupiers.