Current planning status

Recently, during a pre-planning stage for a development in the heart of the WURA area, Croydon Council indicated to a developer that up to 20 units of social housing could be created or at least that some provision should be made for affordable housing. This particular site has a PTAL rating of zero but on-site parking would be very limited as the site would be largely built over. The developer was referred to a panel of Registered Providers who manage social housing. It seems that this reaction is probably prompted by comments that most of the flatted developments so far approved in the Borough are unaffordable for many.

Any single development of 10 or more flats is required to include provision for social housing. Croydon Council have defined their approach to this within the Croydon Local Plan in Policy SP 2.4 and SP 2.5. Specifically:

  • seek to achieve 50% affordable housing overall with a 60:40 ratio between affordable rented homes and intermediate (including starter) homes
  • 30% affordable housing within one development or 15% affordable housing within one 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 and construction costs are not in the upper quartile.

Any proposals offered below these requirements will be refused by the Council.

This changes the financial dynamic for potential developers in the area and also explains why all the current developments are for under 10 properties.

The current developments in the WURA area are as follows:-

  • 32 Welcomes Road – 9 flats. Recently granted in spite of a vigorous campaign against by the neighbours. Aventier Land-bank
  • 36 Welcomes Road – 8 flat conversion. Bruce Birkett. Under construction. More on site parking promised.
  • 42 Welcomes Road – 7 flats & 2 semi-detached houses. Land was being transferred to Turnbull Land Ltd although it now appears these developers are no longer interested.
  • 56 Welcomes Road – 9 flats Mrs A Chadda. A particularly unpleasant looking overbearing building awaiting planning permission.
  • 57 Welcomes Road – 7 flats. Regal Properties. Under construction.
  • 35 Uplands Road. Withdrawn and plans under review in consultation with WURA before resubmission.
  • 1 Kearton Close – application withdrawn.

WURA has objected to many of the above developments because of their impact on the road. The ones objected to provided insufficient parking capacity (among other problems) and therefore increased likelihood of illegal parking.

Although the opportunity to respond to all the above applications has now passed, the latest information on each can be viewed on the Croydon Council Planning Register.

NO PARKING!

Please respect the NO Parking rules on Welcomes and Uplands Road.

Our roads are privately maintained public highways with a designated footpath running along Welcomes Road. Parking on our roads for more than a few minutes is an offence and visitors should park on drives where possible. The roads must not be obstructed in terms of the Highways Act and this includes members’ frontages.

Resurfacing work completed successfully

Allfreys completed the resurfacing work between 43 and 56 Welcomes Road on 8th August.

The newly done surface has stood up well to the subsequent heavy rain.

A further stretch was done on 21st August, extending the newly surfaced are from around no. 41 to nearly the junction with Zigzag Road.

Kenley Airfield Heritage Day- Sunday 8th September

REPLICA SPITFIRE – BAR – MODEL FLYING AIRCRAFT – HOT FOOD

ICE CREAMS – FAMILY GAMES – LIVE MUSIC

After a gap of three years the Kenley Airfield Friends Group is back on the Portcullis field for 2019’s Heritage Day on Sunday September 8th – noon until 4pm.

Experience what it was like to be a fighter pilot by sitting in the cockpit of a replica Spitfire. Up in the air the Caterham and District Model Aircraft Flying Club will be demonstrating their flying skills with displays of remote controlled aircraft throughout the afternoon.

There’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained with live music, hot food, trade and craft stands, guided history walks, traditional amusements, Pimms tent and a dog show.

RAFA will be selling tea and home-made cakes and the bar in the Portcullis Club will be open to everyone. The club is well worth a visit as it is home to the Kenley and Caterham branch of RAFA and is full of memorabilia and interesting artefacts to do with flying and being part of the RAF.

Kenley Airfield Friends’ Group will be welcoming new members in their tent, and existing members can renew their membership. Enter their raffle herewith the first prize being a trip in a glider generously donated by Surrey Hills Gliding Club who are based on the airfield.


For more information email info@kafg.org.uk or go to www.kafg.org.uk

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – Sunday 18th August

This year we will commemorate the 79th Anniversary of the ‘Battle of Britain’ in which RAF Kenley played a major role.

A Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire will be making their flypast over our historic and famous fighter airfield on Sunday 18th August 2019, weather permitting and the aircraft behaving themselves. The expected arrival time will be announced nearer the day.

Many Kenley residents will know that RAF Kenley was subjected to many enemy aircraft attacks. This year’s flight falls on the exact day in 1940 when the heaviest raid took place on many of the south east Fighter Command airfields. It became known as ‘The Hardest Day’ of the ‘Battle of Britain’ and RAF Kenley was right in the thick of the action.

This year is the 75th anniversary of the Normandy ‘D Day’ landings on 6th June 1944: the largest maritime invasion in history and in the run up to it, again RAF Kenley played its part.

For safety reasons, visitors please keep to the ‘RAF Kenley Tribute side of Kenley Common.

Kenley Community Plan update

The next and last update on the Kenley Community Plan will be held at the Kenley Memorial Hall on September 11th at 3:00pm until 7:00pm.

A meeting was held on 30th July by the Council team with an update on the initial results of the transport survey. This survey was carried out by WSP, commissioned by the Council to assess transport and highways infrastructure in the Kenley area. The work included a baseline survey of parking demand, pedestrian movements and traffic flows to assess the capacity of highway and transport networks to accommodate growth and understand what additional infrastructure and interventions will be required.

Although significant work still needs to be done, including modelling the impact of cumulative development, there are some early suggestions on the ways road layouts and markings could be improved and the roads made safer for pedestrians.

The online survey and map can be found at https://kenleycommunitymap.commonplace.is/ although submissions are now closed.

For contact details and to find out more please visit: www.croydon.gov.uk/kenleycommunity

Recent burglaries

Over the last few days (July 6th to 11th) there has been an upsurge in criminal activity in the WURA zone. This includes breaking into cars and breaking and entering a house with an alarm system by smashing a window. Do not leave valuables in your car, lock it and make sure that if you are out, that your house windows and doors are secure and your alarm system armed. These crimes took place between midnight and roughly 4am and included a fly-tip in Uplands Road.