Residents at a South Norwood block have branded the access to a proposed car park a “death trap” as plans to add eight flats to their building return for a fifth time.
Leaseholders at Collette Court, in Selhurst Road, say they have fought attempts to add eight homes to their 24-flat block since 2022, with four previous versions failing to win planning approval.
The latest scheme would add another storey to the block, providing six one-bedroom and two three-bedroom flats and taking it from 24 to 32 homes. One garage would be demolished to create access to four new parking spaces.
Croydon Council refused the latest application in May over concerns that access to the proposed four-space car park would pose a safety risk. The applicant has now appealed against the refusal, and no decision date has been officially confirmed.
Residents claim differences in ground levels would make the access dangerously steep, saying it would descend more than a metre over around five metres.
One resident said: “It would be a death trap, a waterfall in wet weather, a danger to life and limb of motorists and their owners walking to and from their cars, as well as cyclists who would have to share this road.”
Previous bids to create eight additional flats failed in 2022, 2023 and 2024 before the latest application was refused this year, although the proposals and the reasons for refusal have changed.
Residents said: “The site is too small; the grounds are small and unsuitable.
“Thanks to our campaigning in defence of our quality of life in these modest flats, this proposal, with slight, cosmetic variations, has been fought off four times.”
The latest plans attracted 27 objections and a petition signed by 144 people, with concerns including highway safety, traffic, green space, flooding, noise and overdevelopment.
Croydon Council also raised concerns about the access when it rejected the application. Planning officers said it appeared “tight and hidden behind the existing garages” and warned drivers entering and leaving the car park could struggle to see one another.
Earlier council advice also described land at the rear as “notably lower” than the existing driveway, and council documents have previously identified differing ground levels and described the site as sloping away from its northern corner.
However, the applicant strongly disputes claims the scheme would be dangerous.
Its appeal argues the four parking spaces would generate a maximum of 18 additional vehicle movements a day, around one an hour between 7am and 11pm. It says the chance of two vehicles meeting on the five-metre single-file stretch would be “minimal”, with cars likely travelling at no more than 5mph.
The appellant said: “In reality, the proposed access would never result in anything close to a dangerous situation.”
It argues drivers would have enough visibility to wait for one another if necessary, while proposed section drawings show the parking area as “flat throughout”. Residents dispute this.
Planners did not oppose eight new homes in principle, finding the development could provide additional housing in an area well connected to public transport. The application was refused over highway safety and the lack of a legal agreement to mitigate its transport impact.
The applicant says the latter has since been resolved through an agreement securing £12,000 towards electric vehicle charging points and preventing occupiers of the proposed flats from obtaining parking permits on surrounding roads.
The appeal therefore centres largely on whether the parking arrangements would pose an unacceptable highway safety risk.
The appellant argues Collette Court is in a “highly sustainable location” near Selhurst and Norwood Junction stations and says the benefits of eight additional homes should be given significant weight.
Residents remain opposed and are urging the planning inspector to uphold Croydon Council’s refusal. They have also called on the council to consider using powers under Section 70A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to prevent further substantially similar applications being repeatedly submitted.
It is the latest planning battle in the borough — Sutton has approved a 359-home development with a music venue, while Selhurst Road will close for a month over Christmas as a 165-year-old railway bridge is replaced.
