Policy information sourced from the Croydon Local Plan

SP2: Homes

SP2.1

In order to provide a choice of housing for people in socially-balanced and inclusive communities in Croydon, the Council will apply a presumption in favour of development of new homes provided applications for residential development to meet the requirements of Policy SP2, SP3.14 and other applicable policies of the development plan.

Quantities and Locations

SP2.2:

In order to provide a choice of housing for people in Croydon the Council will seek to deliver a minimum of 32,890 homes between 2016 and 2036. This will be achieved by:

  • Concentrating development in the places with the most capacity to accommodate new homes whilst respecting the local distinctiveness of the Places and protecting the borough’s physical, natural and historic environment, whilst recognising that Places change and in particular suburbs will sustainably grow; and
  • The allocation of 6,970 homes in the Croydon Local Plan’s Detailed Policies and Proposals beyond the Croydon Opportunity Area;
  • Within the Croydon Opportunity Area, the Croydon Local Plan’s Detailed Policies and Proposals has been informed by the Croydon Opportunity Area Planning Framework and allocates sites for at least 10,760 net additional homes; and
  • 10,060 homes being delivered across the borough on windfall sites; and
  • Seeking to return at least 190 vacant homes back into use by 2026; and
  • Ensuring land is used efficiently, and that development addresses the need for different types of homes in the borough and contributes to the creation or maintenance of sustainable communities; and
  • Not permitting developments which would result in a net loss of homes or residential land.

Affordable Homes

SP2.3:

The Council will seek to ensure that a choice of homes is available in the borough that will contribute to addressing the borough’s need for affordable homes. This will be achieved by a strategic policy target of:

  • 25% of all new homes developed in the borough over the plan period to be either affordable rented homes (homes which are up to 80% market rent) or homes for social rent to meet the borough’s need; and
  • 15% of all new homes in the borough developed over the plan period to be intermediate affordable housing for starter homes, low cost shared home ownership managed by a Registered Social Landlord or intermediate rent.

SP2.4:

To deliver affordable housing in the borough, on sites of ten or more dwellings the Council will:

  • Negotiate to achieve up to 50% affordable housing, subject to viability;
  • Seek a 60:40 ratio between affordable rented homes and intermediate (including starter) homes unless there is agreement between Croydon Council and a Registered Provider that a different tenure split is justified and subject to national regulations on provision of starter homes or, on schemes which are covenanted Private Rental Schemes where the 60:40 ratio is not viable; and;
  • Require a minimum provision of affordable housing as set out in SP2.5.

SP2.5 The Council will require a minimum provision of affordable housing to be provided either:

  • Preferably as a minimum level of 30% affordable housing on the same site as the proposed development or, if 30% on site provision is not viable;
  • If the site is in the Croydon Opportunity Area or a District Centre, as a minimum level of 15% affordable housing on the same site as the proposed development plus the simultaneous delivery of the equivalent of 15% affordable housing on a donor site with a prior planning permission in addition to that site’s own requirement. If the site is in the Croydon Opportunity Area, the donor site must be located within either the Croydon Opportunity Area or one of the neighbouring Places of Addiscombe, Broad Green & Selhurst, South Croydon or Waddon. If the site is in a District Centre, the donor site must be located within the same Place as the District Centre; or
  • As a minimum level of 15% affordable housing on the same site as the proposed development, plus a Review Mechanism entered into for the remaining affordable housing (up to the equivalent of 50% overall provision through a commuted sum based on a review of actual sales values and build costs of completed units) provided 30% on-site provision is not viable, construction costs are not in the upper quartile and, in the case of developments in the Croydon Opportunity Area or District Centres, there is no suitable donor site.

In assessing viability, the Council will compare Residual Land Value with Existing Use Value (plus an incentive to provide a competitive return to a willing landowner) or Alternative Use value if there is an alternative use for the site which would comply with the policies of the development plan and could be implemented; will take account of features which appear to seek to exclude affordable housing by design or by incurring upper quartile construction costs; and will take account of abnormal costs incurred.

SP2.6:

The Council will only accept in exceptional circumstances commuted sums on sites with ten or more units in lieu of on-site provision of affordable housing (or provision on a donor site) if it is not possible to find a Registered Provider to manage the on-site affordable homes.

Mix of Homes by Size

SP2.7:

The Council will seek to ensure that a choice of homes is available in the borough that will address the borough’s need for homes of different sizes. For both market and affordable housing, this will be achieved by:

  • Setting a strategic target for 30% of all new homes up to 2036 to have three or more bedrooms; and
  • Setting a preferred unit mix on individual sites in the Croydon Local Plan’s Detailed Policies and Proposals, applicable to sites of ten or more homes across the borough including sites within Croydon Opportunity Area; and
  • Working with partners to facilitate the provision of specialist and supported housing for elderly and vulnerable people.

Quality and Standards

SP2.8:

The Council will seek to ensure that new homes in Croydon meet the needs of residents over a lifetime and contribute to sustainable communities with the borough. This will be achieved by:

  • Requiring that all new homes achieve the minimum standards set out in the Mayor of London’s Housing Supplementary Planning Guidance and National Technical Standards (2015) or equivalent; and
  • Ensuring that all new homes designed for families meet minimum design and amenity standards set out in the Croydon Local Plan’s Detailed Policies and Proposals and other relevant London Plan and National Technical Standards (2015) or equivalent.

Gypsies and Travellers

SP2.9:

The Council will deliver a minimum of 36 additional Gypsy and Travellers pitches in the borough by 2036 to meet the need of Croydon’s Gypsy and Traveller community. Land is allocated for Gypsy and Traveller pitches in the Croydon Local Plan’s Detailed Policies and Proposals. Any proposals for additional sites that are not allocated should meet the following criteria:

  • Should be available and deliverable; and
  • Should have good access to essential services including health and education facilities and access to local shops; and
  • Have good means of access from roads; and
  • Not be located in areas of high flood risk (Flood Risk Zone 3); and
  • Should not have unacceptable adverse impact on the biodiversity of the borough.

For more information please see the Local Plan