Plans to demolish a stately home in Croydon and replace it with eight semi-detached houses have been approved, but some residents say the plan will "ruin their lives".

In late 2023, Carvall Homes applied to Croydon Council to demolish the large home on 23 Hollymeoak Road which has a garden and a swimming pool and instead build eight semi-detached homes.

At a meeting chaired by Cllr Michael Neal held yesterday (August 16), Croydon Council’s Planning Committee unanimously agreed to approve the application.

However, some residents aren’t happy with the approval.

Hollymeoak Road residents Mr and Mrs Turton stood as objectors, although they couldn’t attend the meeting in person.

The couple pointed out that 20 objections had been raised regarding the application and there were no supporters or neutrals.

In a written statement, they said: “We would like to register our distress at the approval recommendation on the above planning application.

“Car parking and bin storage for this development will be next to our boundaries, which is a low-level fence with the proposed development above this, because of the road incline, which is 493cm from our main living area doors.”

Part of the plan is for seven parking bays to be installed on Hollymeoak Road for the residents who would live in the houses.

Mr and Mrs Turton objected to the parking plans and said: “The seven parking bays planned opposite us will ensure we suffer exposure to nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter as well as elevated noise pollution and lose our quiet enjoyment in our main living area and garden.”

They referred to the death of Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, who died in 2013 from a fatal asthma attack, which a coroner ruled in 2020 had been due to being exposed to excessive air pollution.

They added: “Car pollution, rotting waste smells, rodents spreading disease attracted by the rotting waste.

“Basically, our life will be reduced to a living hell.

“It appears that this does not matter to the councillors.”

They also objected to the transport plan where £1,500 would be deposited for each home.

They said: “There is no bus route on this winding and steep incline of a road.

“Rarely does a cyclist ever attempt to climb Hollymeoak Road.”

TfL gave Hollymeoak Road a Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL) of 0, which means it’s extremely poor and difficult for pedestrians to access public transport from that road.

Mr and Mrs Turton pointed out in their written statement that “there are no footpaths on Hollymeoak Road”.

They added: “Our son is in the Army and deserves enjoyment when returning from deployments.

“This is beyond unacceptable.

“This development cannot go ahead without ruining our lives.”

Simon Grainger, of Grainger Planning Associates Ltd, the agent of Carvall Homes, spoke in support of the plan.

He said: “A number of residents spoke to Carvall Homes, and they expressed that they had no objections to the plan to build eight new homes.

“We don’t consider the development will unreasonably impact the residents of Hollymeoak Road.”

Simon pointed out a number of similar schemes in Croydon that had been approved and he felt that this “shouldn’t be an exception”.

He added: “The common factor is that all these schemes replace a single dwelling with a more intense form of development, leading to a beneficial increase in Croydon’s family housing stock.”

Simon said that Carvall Homes have listened to the objections raised by certain groups and have amended the plans to better suit them.

He referred to Croydon Council’s Tree Officer who had raised objections in the past about how the plan would affect the environment.

Simon said: “A robust landscaping and planning scheme supports the application.

“The impact of the development on the existing trees has been thoroughly discussed with the Council’s Tree Officer, who now has no objections.”

Simon concluded by describing the plan as “policy compliant” and urged the Committee to approve the application.

After the objections and supports were stated, the councillors found themselves in agreement that the proposal should go ahead.

Chairman Cllr Micheal Neal said: “In principle, I agree with what has been said.

“It is a large plan and it’s very appropriate.

“I like the design for the homes as well.”

He added: “The impact on the neighbours is very minimal, and parking is adequate and meets the criteria.”

Councillors were asked to vote, and all nine councillors unanimously agreed to approve the application.

Construction is expected to commence later this year.