Croydon Local Plan Review (October/November 2021)

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The Croydon Local Plan Review consultation, previously planned for June/July 2021 is now planned for public consultation between October/November 2021.  We are preparing representation evidence for this consultation.

This Croydon Plan will define the Planning Policies for Croydon and Shirley for the next five years when the Plan will require a further revision (as required by Statute).

The Government have published guidance for LPAs which supports the revised (March 21) London Plan requirement to define “Design Codes” for localities which includes parameters to define “Local Character” and local “infrastructure provision” appropriate for a development’s “Site Capacity”.

The Design Codes should also define the Housing Density appropriate for the setting i.e., for Outer (London) Suburban, Suburban, Urban and Central.

If you believe that recent developments are overdeveloped for the area, it would be helpful if you responded to this forthcoming consultation to emphasise the requirement to be compliant to the government recommendation in their Revised Local Plan Review Policy during the Consultation.

Currently, there is NO guidance on the appropriate Density for any locality in Croydon and therefore developers can squeeze as many Dwellings as possible (Units) on a site without regard to the  site capacity, locality or supporting infrastructure.

The MORA Committee Member on Planning is active in preparing for the consultation and will provide further guidance and information on our website during the consultation period on how to respond and the policies to target.

Croydon Council Targeted Testing Team

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Please be aware that Croydon Council are running a programme in relation to our response to COVID-19 called the Targeted Community Testing programme.

The team are tasked with engaging with residents which includes door knocking to offer information and signposting on Testing, Vaccinations and isolation payments and health issues that have a negative impact with COVID. They also hand out Home Test Kits where required at the doorstep.

The team will attend generally wearing Croydon Council vests and should be carrying badges to identify themselves if required. They will be engaging with residents to see where help might be needed, to identify issues preventing people from getting vaccinated and assisting people to find the right information where required.

They will be asking questions related to COVID-19 and trying to see if there is anything the council can help with to continue to help keep our residents safe.

Tests are provided for FREE. There is no payment required for this service.

Croydon Trading Standards are aware we usually discourage opening the door to cold callers. You do not have to engage with the staff or provide any information. However, please remember the main aim of this engagement programme is to continue to provide an effective response to COVID-19. Therefore, if this team do knock and you are satisfied by checking their credentials that they are part of this programme, the council would appreciate your support.

For further information in relation to COVID-19 and the council response please visit:
https://www.croydon.gov.uk/coronavirus-information-and-service-updates

Register now to vote in Croydon’s referendum

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There is less than a fortnight to go for Croydon residents to register to vote ahead of this October’s referendum on the council’s governance arrangements.

On 7 October voters will be asked: How would you like the London Borough of Croydon to be run?

• By a leader who is an elected councillor chosen by a vote of the other elected councillors. This is how the council is run now.

• By a mayor who is elected by voters. This would be a change from how the council is run now.

The council is urging anyone who is eligible to vote but is not on the electoral register to sign up here by midnight on Tuesday 21 September. You must be registered to vote by this date in order to take part in the referendum.

Poll cards are being delivered from next week onwards. These are for information purposes, and residents do not need to take them to vote at their polling station.

Polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 7 October. Information on your nearest polling station will be available on the council website in the next week. While there is no longer a requirement to wear face coverings in polling stations, voters will be encouraged to do so, and to maintain appropriate social distancing.

Registered voters can choose to vote by post instead of going in person. Most postal votes will be sent out by Royal Mail first-class delivery from around Wednesday 15 September, with further dispatches for late postal vote applicants.

Completed postal votes must be returned by 10pm on Thursday 7 October. For registered voters wishing to do so by post, or to change or cancel an existing postal or proxy voting arrangement, the deadline is 5pm on 22 September.

Voters can apply to appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf. The deadline for new proxy vote applications is 5pm on Wednesday 29 September.

Voters can apply for an emergency proxy after 29 September but before 5pm on Thursday 7 October if they cannot attend their polling station because of work or illness – this includes anyone required to isolate due to Covid.

Application forms for postal and proxy votes can be downloaded from www.croydon.gov.uk/referendum and completed forms can be posted or emailed to: electoral.services@croydon.gov.uk. Forms must be received by the relevant deadline.

Votes will be counted after the polls close at 10pm on Thursday 7 October, and the result will appear on the council’s website shortly after it is declared.