187 replies to this topic

[Local]

Though there's a world of difference between bringing a lovely building back into use and putting up something brand new.

[Norwood lad]

Just a reminder for those interested in how Croydon are proposing to shape the area for the net twenty years come along and make your voice heard this Saturday.

The next stage of Croydon's Core Strategy is launched today.

Please see below for full details.

But note there's an event at the Phoenix Community Centre on 13 March 2010
and also that the consultation closes on 21 March 2010.

Apologies for the formatting....

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Towards a Preferred Core Strategy – Further Regulation 25 Consultation Report

The second stage of consultation on Croydon’s emerging Core Strategy is now live. This consultation gives people the chance to comment on the planning policy that sets out how Croydon should develop over the next 15 to 20 years. The report looks at what, where and how much new development should take place in the different Places of Croydon to help achieve the long-term vision for the Borough. The full document can be downloaded in PDF form from the LDF consultation portal (consultation portal), representations can be drafted, saved and submitted through the portal and we would encourage its use as it is the quickest way in which we can process your comments and it saves on paper.

The formal consultation period for the Core Strategy runs from the 8th February until the 21st March. As local experts, your views are incredibly important, so please do get involved, either at your local event, or by one of the following methods:

Website: www.croydon.gov.uk/corestrategy
Email: ldf@croydon.gov.uk
Consultation portal: http://consult.croydon.gov.uk
Facebook group: Search for “Croydon – Third City”
Post: Policy and strategy, North-west quadrant, 18th floor, Taberner House, Park Lane, Croydon CR9 1JT
Telephone: 020 8407 1385

During the formal consultation period there will be a series for four events – open from 10am to 3.30pm – scheduled to give visitors the opportunity to look at plans, and comment on, or get involved in discussions about, the Core Strategy’s proposals:

27 February Maple Room, Fairfield Halls, Park Lane
6 March Christchurch Hall, Brighton Road, Purley
13 March Phoenix Community Centre, Westow Street, Upper Norwood
20 March Selsdon Hall, Addington Road, Selsdon

The informal, drop-in nature of the events means that, even if you have only 10 minutes to spare, you can get involved.

You can access the Core Strategy and all its supporting documentation online at www.croydon.gov.uk/corestrategy and hard copies are will be available at the borough’s libraries and Access Croydon, Taberner House.



Kind Regards

David Carlisle
Assistant Planner


Policy & Strategy Team
Planning, Regeneration & Conservation Department
Taberner House
Park Lane Croydon
CR9 1JT
Team Number: 020 8407 1385Direct Line: 020 8726 6000 ext. 62153
Web: http://www.croydon.g...andregeneration

[Zirconium]

Though there's a world of difference between bringing a lovely building back into use and putting up something brand new.

True there is a difference, but not a world of difference I would of thought. It happens in London all the time and as long as it is "sensitively" done I think it brings character and a sense of history. Of course the Globe Theatre is brand new but I think it adds a lot to the South Bank.

[Fang]

Sensitivity is important. However, my difficulty is that I can't think of any recent large scale commercial retail/leisure developments to which the word 'sensitive' could be applied or how such a development could be 'sensitively' accommodated within public parkland.I also suspect the economic, traffic and environmental consequences of such a development would be anything but 'sensitive' for the district.

I would welcome a boost for retailing in the area and Victory Place strikes me as a prime site for a market. But it is essential to keep the economic focus on The Triangle and not shift it to the Park.

[RetiredMember2]

I'm with Fang on this and believe the key to the regeneration of the Triangle is within the Triangle not a vast commercial venture in the park. However it would be interesting to explore how the scrub-land area of the top site could be used to host a range of markets without the need for permanent structures to be built. Croydon Enterprise launched the Farmer's Market there some time ago now but there were teething problems and nobody seemed able or willing to sort them out and after a few months the project folded.

I would like to second Zirconium's suggestion for " The Chamber of Commerce would do well to invite a presentation from Spacemakers – the agency behind the Brixton project http://spacemakers.org.uk/. An indoor market may not be compatible with the physical environment of the Triangle, particularly the traffic congestion. But it is surely worth exploring." An excellent choice of speaker Z, much more realistic way forward for CP than to become the next Blue Water/Purley Way.

[Zirconium]

Sensitivity is important. However, my difficulty is that I can't think of any recent large scale commercial retail/leisure developments to which the word 'sensitive' could be applied or how such a development could be 'sensitively' accommodated within public parkland.I also suspect the economic, traffic and environmental consequences of such a development would be anything but 'sensitive' for the district.

Fang - I am not talking about large scale commercial development and certainly not multiplex. What I think might be considered is a limited covered/enclosed facility (possibly adjacent to the bus terminus) that would host market type retail activities as well as community projects of the type that Spacemakers are pioneering so successfully. If at the same time the hugely unattractive bus terminus (presumably built on annexed parkland)could be made visually more pleasant, that would be a bonus. Over the years there have been fun fairs, farmers markets and an ice rink on that site which is mainly covered in hardcore. I don't think there would be any traffic implications since it is so excellently served by public transport.

If it is deemed possible to achieve this within the confines of the Triangle well and good, but the commercial pressures there seem to be housing and, as we are seeing, estate agents. But but in any event I think Spacemakers should be invited to give their views in the first instance.

[Dazza]

I cam imagine what the triangle will look & feel like in 20 years time you only have to look at the last 20 years progess to work that out.

[Fang]

Fang - I am not talking about large scale commercial development and certainly not multiplex. What I think might be considered is a limited covered/enclosed facility (possibly adjacent to the bus terminus) that would host market type retail activities as well as community projects of the type that Spacemakers are pioneering so successfully. If at the same time the hugely unattractive bus terminus (presumably built on annexed parkland)could be made visually more pleasant, that would be a bonus. Over the years there have been fun fairs, farmers markets and an ice rink on that site which is mainly covered in hardcore. I don't think there would be any traffic implications since it is so excellently served by public transport.

If it is deemed possible to achieve this within the confines of the Triangle well and good, but the commercial pressures there seem to be housing and, as we are seeing, estate agents. But but in any event I think Spacemakers should be invited to give their views in the first instance.

That would get my vote. But see my earlier post about the problems re-public liability etc. that afflicted the Farmers Market. We need to get bromley on board.

[sydenhamcentral]

Just a thought. With all the talk of rebuilding the crystal palace (I hear people groan) why not:

Rebuild the part of the Crystal Palace wing that linked the station to the top of the park.

This will have a few advantages:

1. It will help connect the triangle with the station and encourage people from other areas to come to CP. There doesn't seem to be ANY connection between the station, park and the triangle. At the very least there should be some sign, beautifully designed, communicating the virtues of the triangle. I understand that the original ticket hall is being reinstated so that also makes sense.

2. it will help with the historical placement of the Crystal Palace (nearly everyone gets it wrong!), it's not building on park land as most of it will be covering a path.

3. Amazing publicity for the area.

4. The wall which was part of the original walkway is still there.

5. It could also be used to promote local businesses or events with well designed panels lining the walkway (or perhaps beautiful enamel panels or a mural on the wall with some info on the palace or promotion of the museum.

6. It could be lit at night making the area feel more secure. A lot of people use that part of the park.

If it happens it should be a VERY faithful reproduction of the original, as close as possible.

Any thoughts?

[QueensPudding]

An interesting idea, but given that we've been told not to discuss the Park, I fear discussing this will lead to this thread being shut down too. Oh dear.

[jamesl]

Any thoughts?

It s a great idea but who would pay to build it ?

That's always the problem

No money to regenerate the park or do anything even slightly ambitious so the LDA propose limited housing in exchange for funding for improvement = everyone argues, lengthy enquiry, stagnation

No money to regenerate the park or do anything even slightly ambitious so the others propose grandiose schemes involving commercial development of top site in exchange for funding for improvement = everyone argues, probable lengthy enquiry, more stagnation.

Solution ? Give up, move away, use Dulwich park or Kelsey park

or perhaps just focus on basic improvement to the top site, funded from Council tax and GLA income, to ensure that the most neglected part of the park becomes accessible and is smartened up, let the LDA deal with the sport centre and pool because it is a London issue given the lack of olympic pools in London (2 here compared to 20 in Sidney), force Bromley to keep up upkeep of the dinsoaurs and the lower parts of the park.

[charlie]

Charlie is experiencing déjà vu, déjà vu, déjà vu........................

Sorry I couldn't help myself Jamesl

I totally agree but it does seem we have been down this road before.It will only be when private organisations funded by tax payers money, such as the Chamber of Commerce, stop supporting huge commercial multiplex type developments on the top site as the answer to the park and the Triangle thus giving encouragement to Bromley council to do nothing, will Bromley actually realise they can very easily do something which will amount to a lot. Hopefully, when the result of the Inquiry is known Bromley can put in some officer resources to seek funding for incremental improvements starting with Accessibility.

[Zirconium]

It s a great idea but who would pay to build it ?

That's always the problem

No money to regenerate the park or do anything even slightly ambitious so the LDA propose limited housing in exchange for funding for improvement = everyone argues, lengthy enquiry, stagnation

No money to regenerate the park or do anything even slightly ambitious so the others propose grandiose schemes involving commercial development of top site in exchange for funding for improvement = everyone argues, probable lengthy enquiry, more stagnation.

Solution ? Give up, move away, use Dulwich park or Kelsey park

or perhaps just focus on basic improvement to the top site, funded from Council tax and GLA income, to ensure that the most neglected part of the park becomes accessible and is smartened up, let the LDA deal with the sport centre and pool because it is a London issue given the lack of olympic pools in London (2 here compared to 20 in Sidney), force Bromley to keep up upkeep of the dinsoaurs and the lower parts of the park.

I don't see Bromley doing anything more than maintaining the status quo or even worse they might decide to sell off parts of the park for housing given the pressure to build new houses - who knows? It's surely better for the local community to take the initiative, to come up with a proposal that has wide acceptance. It doesn't have to be grandiose but it could be small scale and effectively self funding.

[sydenhamcentral]

I wasn't really talking about the park, it's about making the connection between the main transport link and the triangle a lot stronger.

It's just an idea. Forget funding for now! ;-)

[matt]

I wasn't really talking about the park, it's about making the connection between the main transport link and the triangle a lot stronger.

It's just an idea. Forget funding for now! ;-)

The tram would do that.