Plans to build dozens of new homes in Purley have been given the go-ahead by Croydon Council despite hundreds of residents objecting to the proposal and the local MP claiming they will “look like a prison block”

The proposal to create 17 new flats and 19 new homes on land off Kingsdown Avenue and Montpelier Road is part of the council’s commitment to build 1,000 affordable homes by 2018 – through a company wholly owned by the council called Brick by Brick.

Planning permission has now been given for the first batch of homes which will see eight sites across the borough developed.

A total of 102 new homes will be built in New Addington, Upper Norwood, South Norwood, Thornton Heath and Purley.

The 34 homes in Purley were approved by the council’s planning committee at a meeting in the Town Hall on Thursday night – and it is a decision which has angered Conservative Croydon South MP Chris Philp.

He said: “This development is on an open green space that Labour should be protecting, not building on.

“It looks like a prison block and is terribly designed. It only has nine parking spaces for 34 flats, so it will make the scarcity of on-street parking even worse.”

A total of 233 responses to the Purley plans were given to the council objecting to the development.

Concerns were raised about the new homes being “obtrusive in design” and a “permanent alteration to the landscape.”

Despite the objections, the Montpelier Road and Kingsdown Avenue development was recommended by council officers for approval.

And at the planning committee meeting six Labour councillors voted to grant the planning permission while four Conservative councillors voting against the proposal.

The council says half of the properties built by Brick by Brick will be affordable homes.

The remaining 50 per cent will be for private sale.

There is a local sales and lettings policy on all homes, giving local people priority access.

In reaction to the planning committee’s decision, Councillor Alison Butler, the council’s cabinet member for homes, regeneration and planning, said: “It is fantastic Brick by Brick’s first batch of homes have been granted planning consent.

“Croydon is in desperate need of good quality, affordable housing and this innovative approach will enable many of our residents who are homeless or stuck in temporary accommodation, the chance to move into affordable homes of their own.”

Colm Lacey, who is the managing director and CEO of Brick by Brick added: “We are delighted to have received planning permission for the first group of developments. This is a key milestone for the company and we look forward to successfully delivering these schemes for Croydon residents.”

Planning consent has been given for eight sites across the Croydon, which will see the development of:

• Two houses and five apartments on King Henry’s Drive, New Addington
• Two houses and four flats on Uvedale Crescent, New Addington
• Seven houses on Chertsey Crescent, New Addington
• Eight flats and a house on Oxford Road, Upper Norwood
• Nine homes at Malton House, South Norwood
• 11 apartments on Northbrook Road, Thornton Heath
• 11 apartments and eight houses on Regina Road, South Norwood
• 34 new homes which will be a mix of flats and houses on Kingsdown Avenue and Montpelier Road, Purley