Policy information sourced from the Croydon Local Plan

DM10: Design and Character

The following policies DM10.1 to DM10.10 apply in circumstances other than those where intensification policies (DM10.11) and place-specific policies (DM34 to DM49 and Table 11.1) specify otherwise and will be interpreted with reference to the description of each of the Places of Croydon set out in the introduction to each policy DM34 to DM49 and in the Council’s Borough Character Appraisal and by reference to Table 6.5.

DM10.1:

Proposals should be of high quality and, whilst seeking to achieve a minimum height of 3 storeys, should respect:

  • The development pattern, layout and siting;
  • The scale, height, massing, and density;
  • The appearance, existing materials and built and natural features of the surrounding area; the Place of Croydon in which it is located.

Where an extension or alteration is proposed, adherence to Supplementary Planning Document 2 Residential Extensions and Alterations or equivalent will be encouraged to aid compliance with the policies contained in the Local Plan.

Where a conversion or house in multiple occupation is proposed the Council will also consider the effects of noise, refuse collection and additional car parking on the character of an area. For this reason, the Council will seek proposals to incorporate parking within the rear, to the side or underneath building.

In the case of development in the grounds of an existing building which is retained, development shall be subservient to that building.

The council will take into account cumulative impact.

DM10.2:

Proposals should create clear, well defined and designed public and private spaces. The Council will only consider parking within the forecourt of buildings in locations where the forecourt parking would not cause undue harm to the character or setting of the building and where forecourts are large enough to accommodate parking and sufficient screening without the vehicle encroaching on the public highway. The Council will support proposals that incorporate cycle parking within the building envelope, in a safe, secure, convenient and well-lit location. Failing that, the council will require cycle parking to be located within safe, secure, well lit and conveniently located weather-proof shelters unobtrusively located within the setting of the building.

DM10.3:

The Council will seek to support proposals that restore and incorporate historic street furniture within the development.

DM10.4:

All proposals for new residential development will need to provide private amenity space that.

  • Is of high quality design, and enhances and respects the local character;
  • Provides functional space (the minimum width and depth of balconies should be 1.5m);
  • Provides a minimum amount of private amenity space of 5m2 per 1-2 person unit and an extra 1m2 per extra occupant thereafter;
  • All flatted development and developments of 10 or more houses must provide a minimum of 10m2 per child of new play space, calculated using the Mayor of London’s population yield calculator and as a set out in Table 6.2 below. The calculation will be based on all the equivalent of all units being for affordable or social rent unless as signed Section 106 Agreement states otherwise, or an agreement in principle has been reached by the point of determination of any planning application on the amount of affordable housing to be provided. When calculating the amount of private and communal open space to be provided, footpaths, driveways, front gardens, vehicle circulation areas, car and cycle parking areas and refuse areas should be excluded; and
  • In the case of development in the grounds of an existing building which is retained, a minimum length of 10m and no less than half or 200m2 (whichever is the smaller) of the existing garden area is retained for the host property, after the subdivision of the garden.

Adherence with Supplementary Planning Document No.3: Designing for Community Safety or equivalent will be encouraged to aid compliance with the policies contained with the Local Plan.

DM10.5:

In addition to the provision of private amenity space, proposals for new flatted development and major housing schemes will also need to incorporate high quality communal outdoor amenity space that is designed to be flexible, multifunctional, accessible and inclusive.

DM10.6:

The Council will support proposals for development that ensure that;

  • The amenity of the occupiers of adjoining buildings are protected; and that
  • They do not result in direct overlooking at close range or habitable rooms in main rear or private elevations; and that
  • They do not result in direct overlooking of private outdoor space (with the exception of communal open space) within 10m perpendicular to the rear elevation of a dwelling; and that
  • Provide adequate sunlight and daylight to potential future occupants; and that
  • They do not result in significant loss of existing sunlight or daylight levels of adjoining occupiers.

DM10.7:

To create a high quality built environment, proposals should demonstrate that:

  • The architectural detailing will result in a high quality building and when working with existing buildings, original architectural features such as mouldings, architraves, chimneys or porches that contribute to the architectural character of a building should, where possible, be retained;
  • High quality, durable and sustainable materials that respond to the local character in terms of quality, durability, attractiveness, sustainability, texture and colour are incorporated;
  • Services, utilities and rainwater goods will be discreetly incorporated within the building envelope42; and
  • To ensure the design of roof-form positively contributes to the character of the local and wider area; proposals should ensure the design is sympathetic with its local context.

DM10.8:

To ensure a cohesive approach is taken to the design and management of landscape within the borough the Council will require proposals to:

  • Incorporate hard and soft landscaping;
  • Provide spaces which are visually attractive, easily accessible and safe for all users, and provide a stimulating environment;
  • Seek to retain existing landscape features that contribute to the setting and local character of an area;
  • Retain existing trees and vegetation including natural habitats43;
  • In exceptional circumstances where the loss of mature trees is outweighed by the benefits of a development, those trees lost shall be replaced with new semimature trees of a commensurate species, scale and form; and
  • Adherence with Supplementary Planning Guidance 12 Landscape Design and the Croydon’s Public Realm Design Guide, or equivalent, will be encouraged to aid compliance with the policies contained in the Local Plan.

DM10.9:

To ensure a creative, sensitive and sustainable approach is taken to incorporating architectural lighting on the exterior of buildings and public spaces the Council will require proposals to:

  • Respect enhance and strengthen local character;
  • Seek opportunities to enhance and emphasise the key features of heritage assets and local landmark buildings; or seek to encourage the use of public spaces and make them feel safer by incorporating lighting within public spaces; and
  • Ensure lighting schemes do not cause glare and light pollution.
  • Adherence with Croydon’s Public Realm Design Guide, or equivalent, will be encouraged to aid compliance with the policies contained in the Local Plan.

DM10.10:

When considering the layout of new development, the council will support proposals that minimise the amount of blank and inactive frontages, increase the amount of natural surveillance and avoid dark and secluded areas.

DM10.11:

In the locations described in Table 6.3 and shown on the Policies Map as areas of focussed intensification, new development may be significantly larger than existing and should;

  • Be up to double the predominant height of buildings in the area
  • Take the form of character types “Medium-rise block with associated grounds”, “Large buildings with spacing”, or “Large buildings with Continuous frontage line”
  • Assume a suburban character with spaces between buildings.

Developments in focussed intensification areas should contribute to an increase in density and a gradual change in character. They will be expected to enhance and sensitively respond to existing character by being of high quality and respectful of the existing place in which they would be placed.

For more information please see the Local Plan