Nearly 150 new homes could soon be built on former school playing fields in Croydon currently used for grazing horses.

Plans for a 140-home development off Duppas Hill Road in Waddon have been lodged with Croydon Council by property developer Conegate. 

It is for the north part of the former Heath Clark school playing fields. A move to build 126 homes on the southern part of the field was given the green light  in May 2020.

In the 1930s the field was used by the former Heath Clark School and in the 1970s it became part of Croydon College which closed in 2000 and has been unused since, except for “informal grazing of horses”.

The application said the site has a long history with reports suggesting the area was used for jousting tournaments, including an infamous battle in 1286 in which Lord William de Warenne was slain.

The latest plans would see a mix of terraced houses and flats built around a central garden area in buildings between two and five storeys tall. Of the 140 new homes, 57 would be affordable with a mix of rented homes and shared ownership.

Forty houses and 100 one to three-bed flats would be built with 100 parking spaces, 12 of which are for blue badge holders as well as nearly 200 bicycle parking spaces.

A statement said a children’s play area would be built and 100 trees planted.  It will also create a new community building which could include a cafe, public toilets and a meeting space for the community.

The site was previously earmarked for use by a new school but a planning statement from Savills, on behalf of the applicant, claims there is not the demand.

It said: “The land is available now and residential development would be wholly achievable and deliverable. The proposal will address an identified chronic housing need and the lack of community facilities in the area.

“In the context of the Local Plan review, which will address the new housing targets for the borough, the allocation should there not be retained and alternative uses should be permitted.

“It would be a wasted opportunity to leave the site as it is, just in case an education need were to arise.”