Croydon Council's Planning Committee has approved plans for a new six-flat residential development at 233 Hayes Lane in Kenley, a decision made during a meeting on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
The approved scheme grants permission for a two-storey building with accommodation in the roof, comprising six flats. This represents a refinement of a previously approved scheme for five flats on the same site. The current proposal is marginally taller, measuring approximately 15 centimetres more than the previous plan, with the building's ridge reaching around 8.75 metres. This slight increase in height is to accommodate compliant floor-to-ceiling heights at the second-floor level and is not considered readily apparent from the streetscene, maintaining consistency with the scale of semi-detached properties in the vicinity.
The unit mix has also been adjusted. The previous five-flat scheme included two one-bedroom flats, one two-bedroom flat, and two three-bedroom flats. The new six-flat development features four one-bedroom flats, one three-bedroom flat, and one four-bedroom flat. While Councillor Mark Johnson expressed reservations about the market for one-bedroom flats, he acknowledged this was not a planning consideration. The report notes that the new unit mix exceeds strategic targets for three or more bedroom units, as both duplex units would have three or four bedrooms.
The development will include seven parking spaces, cycle parking, refuse storage, and landscaping. The new access onto Hayes Lane will be implemented in the same location as the previously approved application. Vehicle and pedestrian visibility splays have been provided to ensure safe entry and exit, and officers are satisfied with the forecourt space for vehicles to manoeuvre. To mitigate potential impacts on traffic flow, a financial contribution of £12,000 towards sustainable travel improvements will be secured via a Section 106 agreement. Furthermore, a Construction Logistics Plan will be a pre-commencement condition to minimise disruption during construction.
Concerns regarding overdevelopment, the impact on the area's character, potential overlooking, increased parking pressure, and highway safety were raised by objectors and ward councillor Ola Kolade. However, officers presented a comparison with the previously approved scheme, highlighting that the current proposal's footprint remains the same. Councillor Ian Parker acknowledged that while the development might not enhance the area's character, it was not significantly different enough from the approved scheme to warrant refusal.
The landscaping plan includes associated soft landscaping and additional tree planting, with full details to be secured by condition. Boundary treatment, including a rear boundary wall of at least 1.8 metres high, will be implemented to prevent mutual overlooking and obscure views. The scheme also complies with accessibility standards, with one unit meeting M4(3) requirements for wheelchair users and the remaining dwellings constructed to M4(2) standards.
Sustainability aspects are also a key feature, with the report noting that sustainability measures can be controlled by conditions. While not explicitly detailed for this specific site in the provided text, a separate development at Selsdon Goods Yard is noted for achieving BREEAM excellent and net zero carbon emissions through features like air source heat pumps, energy-efficient lighting, and roof-mounted solar panels. It is implied that similar standards are expected or can be controlled by conditions for the Hayes Lane development.
Ultimately, the committee voted to grant permission, with the scheme expected to contribute to the council's housing targets and provide family-sized homes while respecting the character of Hayes Lane. The decision was made during a meeting detailed in the Agenda frontsheet 20th-Aug-2026 18.30 Planning Committee and the Public reports pack 20th-Aug-2026 18.30 Planning Committee.
