A long-awaited planning application has been submitted for a central Croydon housing estate, which could see the two aged blocks replaced with 445 new flats, shops and community areas.

The application also promises 156 of the flats would be made affordable but the plans face a waiting period while the estate’s few homeowners are bought out.

Woburn Court and Bedford Court are a pair of post-war housing blocks just off Croydon’s Wellesley Road and currently comprise eight low-rise residential blocks of either three or four storeys in height, housing a total of 80 maisonettes and flats.

A CGI of what the regenerated Woburn and Bedford Court could look like (photo: Premcor Estates)A CGI of what the regenerated Woburn and Bedford Court could look like (photo: Premcor Estates)

The site also has 90 car parking spaces as well as single-storey garage blocks and a green verge at the front, both of which are owned by Croydon Council.

According to a council planning report published last year: “The existing buildings on site are generally in a poor state of repair and are reaching the end of their lifespan with the site also suffering from considerable levels of antisocial behaviour including drug dealing and fly-tipping.”

Several residents who have spoken to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) have said much of this crime is the result of their proximity to the town centre.

During a visit to the site over the summer the LDRS noticed fly-tipping outside the garages, including old mattresses and debris.

One resident told the LDRS: “It’s easy for them to pull in and drop stuff off without being caught.”

Under the application, the council-owned garages at The Elms would be demolished and the site redeveloped.

It is hoped that by doing this the council will be able to address the persistent antisocial behaviour issues.

The new application, published on Monday (November 4) would seek to regenerate the ageing estate into a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, with the tallest structure reaching 29 storeys.

Notably, it will be a car-free project, with only 14 accessible parking spaces and one ‘car club’ space, alongside 811 long-stay cycle parking bays.

A central ‘pocket garden’ with play areas, trees, and greenery would be included. And the 1,772 square meters of ground-floor space at the new site could also be used for ‘flexible commercial and community use’ but there’s no detail at this stage on who or what would use it.

While the developers, Premcor Estates, have submitted the application and are now awaiting a date for it to go to Croydon’s Planning Committee, the next question concerns what will happen to the existing tenants.

The majority of the residents are social tenants, with a large number of them being in temporary accommodation, however, there are also a handful of residents who own their flats.

According to local Green councillor Ria Patel: “No work can start until all those people who have bought property on that estate have been bought out.”

The number of residents who own their own properties is fewer than 10.

More information about the aspects of the plans will be revealed at the Planning Committee meeting. Residents will also be given an opportunity to put their views across to the council and developers at this meeting.

In a statement Premcor said: “The vision behind this initiative is not only to provide much-needed affordable housing but also to serve as a catalyst for further regeneration in the nearby Wellesley Road area.”

Premcor’s director Rob Lane added: “This significant inner-city regeneration scheme has taken four years to reach the planning submission stage. We have dedicated substantial time and effort into crafting a masterplan that maximizes residential, commercial, and community benefits for Croydon.”

Planning consultant Rapleys is assisting with the proposal. James Owens, a partner and Head of Planning at Rapleys, highlighted the shortcomings of the existing site which originally dates back to 1964. He noted that an upgrade was not feasible given current standards and regulations.

“Placemaking is central to this proposal,” Mr Owens said. “If approved, this scheme will significantly enhance the quality of life for local residents and revitalise what is now a neglected site plagued by antisocial behaviour.”