The Planning Committee of Croydon Council met on Thursday, 09 April 2026, to discuss planning applications. The committee refused an application for six new dwellings at Hampton, Hawkhirst Road, Kenley, citing concerns about overdevelopment and harm to the local area's character. They also granted permission for a new dwelling at 19 Downsbury Road, Upper Norwood, and a seven-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) at 26 Lonsdale Road, South Norwood.

Hampton, Hawkhirst Road, Kenley

The committee refused planning permission for the demolition of an existing dwelling and garages at Hampton, Hawkhirst Road, Kenley, to erect six new dwellings. The decision was made by a vote of five to four, with Councillor Mark Johnson proposing the refusal on the grounds of overdevelopment, harm to the local area's size, scale, and visual dominance, and a failure to enhance local character. Concerns were also raised about the absence of a legal agreement to secure sustainable transport options.

The application, which was an amended scheme following a previous refusal for eight dwellings, proposed four semi-detached and two detached houses. While officers recommended granting permission, highlighting that the revised scheme addressed previous concerns regarding cramped site layout and overdevelopment, and that the design was considered appropriate for the context, the committee ultimately disagreed. Councillor Johnson stated, The committee has therefore resolved to refuse the application for Hampton, Hawkes Road and Kenley.

19 Downsbury Road, Upper Norwood

The committee granted planning permission for the erection of a two-storey dwelling with a lower ground floor cycle and refuse store, along with associated parking and landscaping, at 19 Downsbury Road, Upper Norwood. This decision was made with five votes in favour, four against, and one abstention. The application had been significantly amended from an earlier proposal for nine flats, following a legal challenge by local residents regarding a covenant on the land that restricted development to a single dwelling per plot. The revised scheme was considered more acceptable in planning terms and better aligned with the surrounding area's character. Councillor Clive Fraser, who seconded the motion to grant permission, commended the applicant and officers for their work, stating, I will be happily supporting this application.

26 Lonsdale Road, South Norwood

Permission was granted for the erection of a single-storey rear extension and a first-floor side extension at 26 Lonsdale Road, South Norwood. The application also included changes to the front fenestration and the conversion of the existing six-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) to a seven-bedroom HMO. This decision was unanimous, with six votes in favour, none against, and no abstentions. The committee noted that the change from a six-person to a seven-person HMO was not considered a material change of use, based on national case law and appeal decisions. The applicant, Ronnie Brasdiel, agreed to enter into a Section 106 agreement to prevent tenants from applying for parking permits, a measure that provided reassurance to the committee. Councillor Helen Redfern, who seconded the motion to grant permission, commented, I'm not a fan of HMOs, but I don't see anything that we could use to refuse this, so I'm delighted to vote for it.

245 Violet Lane, Croydon

The committee refused planning permission for extensions to a property at 245 Violet Lane, Croydon. The application proposed a single-storey front extension, ground-floor wrap-around extension, first-floor rear extension, and side extension, along with the demolition of chimneys. The refusal was based on the detrimental harm the first-floor extension would cause to the adjoining presbytery, St Dominic's Catholic Church, in terms of height, bulk, mass, and daylight. Councillor Fraser proposed the refusal, stating, I think we should look at the impact this has on the neighbouring property in particular. So I'm urging us to refuse this application. The decision was made with one abstention.

The committee also noted the weekly planning decisions made under delegated powers between 09 March 2026 and 29 March 2026.